VIDEO: Austintown man arraigned in officer assault
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CANFIELD – A judge on Tuesday called the Friday assault on a Beaver Township police officer “a nasty case” and ordered a defendant charged in the crime to be held on $300,000 bond.
Zachary R. Crespo, 35, of Austintown faces four felony charges connected to the unidentified officer’s assault. He was injured while answering a domestic call.
Crespo was arraigned via video link Tuesday from Mahoning County jail to the Mahoning County Court in Canfield. It was his first appearance on charges of felonious assault of a peace office, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and violating a protection order.
He also pleaded not guilty to a fourth-degree misdemeanor domestic violence charge.
Judge Molly Johnson ordered Crespo be kept incarcerated pending the posting a $300,000 bond. If he makes bond, the judge set conditions for Crespo, including that he submit to electronically monitored house arrest and have no contact with the female victim – who also was the victim in an earlier case involving Crespo.
“Although I realize the defendant is not guilty until proven otherwise, this is a nasty case and the safety of the victims must be considered,” Johnson said. “The police officer suffered serious injuries stemming from this case.”
The judge set a preliminary hearing on the felony charges for Friday. If found guilty of all charges, Crespo could face up to 35 years in prison.
Prosecutors also asked the judge to order a blood test for Crespo, testing for possible sexually transmitted diseases or HIV. The request came from the female victim, but Johnson said she would not rule on the motion until defense attorney Kristina Klecha would have a chance to respond.
Klecha told the judge she would need about a week.
Detective Michael Sinkowitch, speaking for the injured officer, said the officer would not need a protection order.
Crespo also will face possible probation violation sanctions connected to two previous convictions before Johnson, who said he faces 130 days of suspended time in jail.
The name of the injured officer has not been released but Beaver Township police Chief Eric Datillo said his condition has improved and he is recuperating at home following a short hospital stay.
Datillo said the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the police reports and is expected to release a full report today.
Crespo was arrested by Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers after a several-hour manhunt, followed by a standoff that involved negotiations with several law enforcement agencies from the local, county, state and federal level, Datillo said.
“The manpower, leadership, knowledge and training were instrumental in bringing this matter to a peaceful conclusion,” he said.
The incident occurred after police responded to a home on Old Hickory Court in Beaver Township to investigate a domestic call, Datillo said.
Police body camera footage from last week’s incident released to The Vindicator on Tuesday shows Crespo cursing continuously at authorities as he emerged from a wooded area. The officers had their weapons drawn as the man refused to turn around. Eventually, he had to be subdued by a stun weapon.
In an audio clip from the 911 call reporting the domestic incident, a woman reported that her ex-boyfriend had broken a window. The call, which lasted about seven minutes, included a child screaming in the background and the two adults fighting about a knife.
“There’s glass everywhere,” the woman was heard telling a 911 dispatcher. “Oh my God, he’s (expletive) breaking windows! What is wrong with you? Get out! Get out!”