Video shows Austintown Police using taser on robbery suspect
The Austintown Police Department has released surveillance video showing an officer using his taser to subdue a robbery suspect at the Mahoning Avenue Walmart.
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - The Austintown Police Department has released surveillance video showing an officer using his taser to subdue a robbery suspect at the Mahoning Avenue Walmart.
Austintown police say 32-year-old Jawwaad Pusey is suspected of pulling a gun Monday on a McDonald's worker. Police say Pusey has a history of scheming area businesses out of cash.
It was likely from dumpsters, police say, 32-year-old Jawwaad Pusey would find food and try to return the items to fast-food restaurants for money back.
"Becomes very agitated and a lot of times starts getting into shouting matches with the manager and what not," explained Austintown Detective Jordan Yacovone.
On Monday though, at McDonald's on Mahoning Avenue, the suspect took the situation one step further.
"He actually pulled a gun from his coat and pointed the gun at the clerk and demanded that she open up the drawer," said Yacovone.
A witness was able to get a license plate number which gave police the edge they needed to identify the suspect. Pusey was then found early the following morning allegedly scheming to return baby formula at Wal-Mart.
"When the managers refused him there, he once again became violent, started shouting. He was in the lobby, started kicking carts," explained Yacovone.
The situation when police arrived escalated to the point officers tased Pusey.
"We did recover drug paraphernalia during his arrest, so that's a pretty good indication of why he needs cash and why he is willing to go to desperate measures to get the cash," said Yacovone.
Police believe Pusey may be the same man responsible for throwing a rock through a car window at Taco Bell last fall when the manager there refused to give him a refund.
Yacovone said, at the time police couldn't prove Pusey was the one to throw the rock, so he wasn't arrested or charged.
Now, though the law has caught up with him, Pusey faces a felony charge of aggravated robbery with more felony charges possible.
Pusey is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
