Warren man accused of ramming deputy's cruiser
An early morning police car chase on June 4 led to felonious assault charges against the vehicle's driver.
26-year-old William Oscar Campbell Jr. of Warren was arrested and charged with felonious assault with a motor vehicle, a 2nd-degree felony; failure to comply with the order of a police officer, a 3rd-degree felony; and resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor.
According to the police report, Warren Police officers were in the vicinity of Elm Road and North Park Avenue around 3:30 am Saturday morning when officers reportedly observed a white Mercury Grand Marquis traveling south on N. Park Ave., which had been reported earlier that evening in an alleged gun-related incident on Youngstown Rd.
Officers attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle, which according to the police report stated that the vehicle accelerated through multiple city streets, blowing through stop signs and reaching speeds of 80 mph along N. Park Ave towards N. River Rd. A Trumbull Co. Sheriff's deputy joined in the pursuit and the Grand Marquis lost control of the vehicle into a grassy area along N. Park Ave.
The sheriff's deputy pulled his car in front of the suspect's car, while the Warren officer placed his squad car spotlight on the driver of the vehicle. The report stated that Warren police officer Mason Henline was able to identify the driver of the Grand Marquis as William Oscar Campbell Jr.
According to the police report, as the sheriff's deputy approached the car, the suspect attempted to flee the scene in his car, leading the sheriff's deputy to jump back into his police cruiser, and, according to the report, the Grand Marquis rammed into the sheriff's vehicle.
The Grand Marquis reportedly fled the scene, traveling northbound on N. Park Ave. at a high rate of speed. As the suspect's car approached the intersection of Hogland Blackstub Rd., the car drove into a ditch.
As the officers approached the vehicle with guns drawn, the driver of the vehicle was instructed to show his hands. A female passenger was screaming and was removed from the suspect's vehicle.
The report stated that as the officer attempted to arrest Campbell, the suspect allegedly pulled away from the arresting officer toward the second officer on the scene. Officer Henline then used his body to take Campbell to the ground, where he was placed into custody.
The passenger of the vehicle, a 25-year-old female from Warren, was also arrested at the scene for outstanding warrants.
The case was handed over to Trumbull Co. Prosecutor's office.