Police say motorist pointed gun at officers

3/19/2004

A Toledo man was charged yesterday after he pointed a loaded handgun at a city police officer who was trying to arrest him during a traffic stop.

Jason Clark, 28, of 915 South Byrne Rd., No. 18, was charged with felonious assault and carrying a concealed weapon. He was being held in the Lucas County jail in lieu of a $60,000 bond ordered during an appearance in Toledo Municipal Court.

A 17-year-old South Toledo girl, who was in the car along with her 4-month-old baby, was arrested for delinquency in connection with endangering children and a curfew violation. The teenager was released from the Lucas County Juvenile Detention Center to the custody of her mother. A hearing date has not been set in the girl's case.

Police saw their car near an abandoned house in the 1400 block of Prospect Avenue and stopped it at Prospect and Smead Avenue about 1:25 a.m. While officers were arresting Mr. Clark on warrants, he struggled with police, who noticed him holding a pistol.

Police said Mr. Clark's gun was pointed at one of the officers, who then drew her service weapon but didn't fire because of the proximity of her colleague, the teenager, and the baby.

Police ordered Mr. Clark to drop the gun, which he did when one of the officers pinned him against the back of the car.