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YOUNGSTOWN -- A 28-year-old East Philadelphia Avenue man was being held Thursday on various charges, awaiting arraignment in Youngstown Municipal Court after he was a subject of a short standoff with police at his South Side home Wednesday morning.
A video arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today for Vernon W. Johnson, who is charged with having weapons under disability, improperly discharging weapons into a habitation and possession of drugs.
Johnson was arrested and taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital with minor injuries after the standoff that occurred about 5 a.m. at his home in the 900 block of East Philadelphia, according to reports. Officers were called to the home to investigate reports of gunfire.
Reports stated muffled sounds of gunfire continued after the officers parked their cruisers in front of the home.
Officers got in touch with Johnson's mother -- who tried to reach the man on his cellphone. The mother told officers she had spoken earlier with the man, who said he was " losing his mind."
She said she thought she heard gunfire in the background, the report states. The mother told police that Johnson's sister and three juveniles were hiding in the southwest corner of the house but could not see anything.
A police dog was called to the scene, and officers used speakers to try to get the man to come out. During this time, officers could observe a light at the rear of the home flicking off and on.
After several minutes, the man appeared outside a rear door, and he appeared to be holding some sort of rifle. He started to flee through back yards with officers in pursuit, according to reports. He was spotted stopped at a backyard next door, the report states.
Johnson complied with officers' commands to put his hands in the air, and he did not have the firearm, the report states.
Upon being handcuffed, Johnson was found with a rock-like substance looking like crack cocaine in his groin area and $150 in cash, according to police.
Johnson had a laceration on his wrist and arm with fresh blood dripping from his arm.
Johnson's sister and the children were taken safely out of the home, the report states.
Later, a short-barrel rifle was located in a garbage can, next to the rear door that Johnson had exited, the report states.
Johnson is being held without bond until today's arraignment
gvogrin@tribtoday.com