Staff report

LIBERTY — A Youngstown man made his initial appearance in court Wednesday morning for charges stemming from a call hours earlier.

Sherrod Williams, 40, pleaded not guilty to charges of obstructing official business, resisting arrest and domestic violence in Girard Municipal Court. Williams posted bail and was released, according to court records. He is set to appear back in court July 30.

According to the police report, officers were dispatched to the area of East Montrose Street and Northlawn Drive for a disturbance, which dispatchers described as sounding like a rolling domestic.

Dispatchers told officers that a woman was on the line and could be heard saying things like “you burnt my face with a cigarette,” “you bit my cheek” and “you threw me on the ground,” adding she sounded terrified and was crying and screaming, according to the Liberty police report.

Officers boxed in the vehicle Williams was in at Ravine and Breeze Knoll Drive, ordering Williams, who was the front seat passenger, out.

The report states Williams approached officers in what they deemed to be an “aggressive manner” and walked very close to them, forcing them to back away from him. He held his hands in the air but refused to comply with verbal commands and was told “numerous times” to turn away from them and get on the ground, the report states.

The report states officers gave Williams a final warning, telling him he would be hit with a stun weapon. Officers later did deploy the weapon because of the perceived physical resistance and altercation.

Officers spoke to the woman after apprehending Williams and calling the Liberty Fire Department to evaluate him, and the woman explained to officers that she and Williams were arguing when she tried to leave the car.

According to the report, the woman said Williams then came after her and grabbed her, pulling her back to the car, saying something along the lines of “drive us back.” The officer noted in the report that her shirt was ripped around the collar and she had several fresh scratches around her neck.

The reporting officer asked dispatchers if they heard any verbal threats on the open 911 call, and dispatchers told the officer that they heard Williams saying something along the lines of “you’re going to drive where I say you’re going to drive,” adding the woman said something about him burning and assaulting her earlier.

The officer confirmed a small burn mark on the woman’s face and they found her car keys between the passenger seat and a phone in Williams’s possession after discovering both items were taken from her, the report states.