2 men plead not guilty to receiving stolen goods

1/29/2008

Two of the three men involved in a police chase that ended when a car crashed into a tree were arraigned yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court, each charged with receiving stolen property.

Maurice West, 27, and Clarence Liggons, both of 2805 Bryn Mawr Drive, each pleaded not guilty and were returned to the county jail in lieu of $25,000 bond each.

Judge Gene Zmuda set a Feb. 28 trial date for both cases.

A third man, Antoine West, 24, also of the Bryn Mawr address, is charged in Toledo Municipal Court with obstructing official business.

Police said Maurice West was driving a car Jan. 9 when he was stopped by police at a fast-food restaurant at Central Avenue and Holland-Sylvania Road in Sylvania Township. After police arrested West, Liggons slid into the driver's seat and took off, almost hitting a Toledo police officer, authorities said.

Charges of felonious assault and failure to comply with the order of an officer are pending against Liggons in Sylvania Municipal Court, where he has a court date scheduled for Feb. 7.

After a brief chase that included a Lucas County sheriff's sergeant shooting out the car's tires, all three men were arrested. Police found ammunition but no guns in the stolen car.