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YOUNGSTOWN -- Police do not often get to catch their suspects in the act, but that appears to be the case in an alleged Sunday burglary.
A Youngstown police report states that after surrounding a house on Breaden Street and forcing Dashawn Harmon out at gunpoint, police had to shock him with a stun weapon when he tried one last time to avoid arrest. The report states that Harmon, 45, tried to climb out of a second-story window when police surrounded the house. He later allegedly spat at police when they arrested him.
The report states police responded to an alarm about 3:15 p.m. Sunday when the security company detected broken glass in the dining room.
The report states that they arrived to find a shattered rear window leading into the dining room, with a bucket underneath it with a fresh, wet footprint. The first officer called for backup when he heard "rapid movement" inside the house.
Another officer arrived, and they both repeatedly announced their presence through the broken window, with no response. They called for additional support and surrounded the house to cover all entrances and exits.
The report states that an officer stationed at the front of the home saw someone trying to escape through a second-floor window and ordered him to come outside with his hands up. The person did not comply.
After giving several more commands for the person to surrender, police started to break down the back door with a sledgehammer, the report states. That's when Harmon appeared near the door. Police again ordered him to show his hands and open the door. Harmon could not open the door, so an officer used the sledgehammer to break it open.
When police ordered Harmon to come outside and lie on the ground, he allegedly ran toward the street instead.
The report states an officer drew a Taser and warned Harmon that he would be shocked if he did not stop. Harmon stopped but turned too quickly toward police with his hands in front of his body and his legs positioned in what the report describes as an "aggressive" stance. The officer then used the Taser and others took Harmon to the ground and handcuffed him.
The report states Harmon told police he had asthma and they called for an ambulance.
The report states that when police placed him inside a cruiser, Harmon turned, shouted and spat at one officer, so police put a protective mask over Harmon's face to prevent him from spitting again.
An ambulance took Harmon to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital to be treated for breathing problems, and he was released just before 8 p.m. and taken to the Mahoning County jail.
Court records show Harmon has multiple felony and misdemeanor charges and convictions for theft, burglary, receiving stolen property and evading police.
Youngstown Municipal Court online records had not yet been updated on Wednesday to indicate when Harmon's next court date is scheduled.