Warrant issued in teen's shooting death

8/3/2005

Toledo police issued an arrest warrant yesterday in the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy, and hours later the victim's father was arrested after police said he acted disorderly and used abusive language at police headquarters.

A warrant was issued for Michael Jackson, 16, of Mayo Street, in Lucas County Juvenile Court, charging him with delinquency in connection with murder in the death Saturday of Justin Bernal in North Toledo.

Hours after the warrant was signed, Justin's father, Stacy Bernal, 35, of North Summit Street, was booked into the county jail on a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge. He was released last night.

He was arrested after police said he failed to stop his conduct and use of vulgar language after he was warned to do so several times in the second-floor lobby at the investigative services bureau.

Mr. Bernal's wife, Joy Bernal, said her husband brought four boys to the Safety Building on North Erie Street to identify the possible gunman in the case.

She didn't know what happened at headquarters about 12:30 p.m. She just received a call from her husband saying he was being arrested.

"I'm like what? This is not happening," Mrs. Bernal said. "The kids are trying to help, and now they don't want to help. They're all upset. By them arresting him, it's not helping things. It's making it worse."

Mr. Bernal declined a request for an interview with The Blade.

Lt. Bill Moton said Mr. Bernal was sitting in the hallway as the boys, two of whom Mrs. Bernal identified as her sons, were being interviewed.

The lieutenant said Mr. Bernal loudly made statements about the police, including one about them not being there in a timely manner to stop the weekend shooting.

Police asked Mr. Bernal to stop and told him he could stay if he would sit and quiet down. He continued and used vulgar language. Police warned him three or four times to stop before they arrested him, the lieutenant said.

He said the interviews with the boys stopped for a short period of time during the incident at headquarters.

Justin was a passenger in one of two cars in the area of Chase Street when the shooting occurred.

Eight to 10 males got into the cars earlier to look for a large group of people, mostly juveniles, who stole bicycles from porches and taunted others in the area, investigators said.

They said words were exchanged between the two parties and a black male pulled out a handgun and fired a couple of rounds into the air.

As Justin's car was leaving, a shot came through the back window. The other four males, including two of Justin's siblings, in the car ducked. Justin didn't. He turned, looked out the back window, and was shot in the forehead, investigators said.

Contact Christina Hall at

chall@theblade.com

or 419-724-6007.