Leetonia officer injured after being beaten with steel rod

A Leetonia police officer is in surgery Monday after an alleged attack by a 46-year-old on the officer just after midnight.

Leetonia Chief of Police Allan Haueter told 21 News that 62-year-old Leetonia police officer John Hancock was on patrol around 12:03 a.m. in the 400 block of Pearl Street in the village when he stopped to check on a man who had visible cuts and blood on his hands and clothing.

The man allegedly took an approximately three-foot-long steel rod and began to beat the officer long his head and face.

Chief Haueter said the suspect then attempted to gain control of the officer's duty weapon, but Officer Hancock was able to keep his service weapon and was able to overpower the suspect and place him in handcuffs at the scene. 

Columbiana County Sheriff's Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted the Leetonia Police Department with the investigation.

Chief Haueter said the officer was in surgery for a broken ankle and was treated at the hospital for abrasions on the officer's head and face.

The chief said the suspect is a person his department knows and has previously dealt with him.

Chief Haueter said the suspect is also in the hospital but stated he would be charged with a first-degree felony assault against a police officer, which can result in up to 11 years in prison, fines of up to $20,000 and a mandatory minimum sentence of at least three years in prison.