Powell in court on additional charges in North Toledo shooting

5/23/2007

The day he was set to go on trial on several drug and obstructing justice charges, Sherman Powell was arraigned again in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on new counts that would mean more prison time if convicted.

The alleged companion of a 15-year-old North Toledo boy charged in the fatal shooting of undercover police Detective Keith Dressel, Mr. Powell pleaded not guilty yesterday to five charges handed up by a county grand jury Monday.

In the new indictment, Mr. Powell is charged with carrying a concealed weapon, possession of crack cocaine, trafficking in cocaine, obstructing justice, and obstructing official business.

The drug charges now carry firearm specifications, which would mean a mandatory one year in prison over any other prison sentence imposed.

Also, the new indictment elevated the obstructing official business charge from a misdemeanor to a felony. A sixth charge of resisting arrest was not included in the latest indictment so was dropped when the original indictment was dismissed.

A new trial date was set for June 12.

Because one of the charges was dropped, Mr. Powell's total bond was lowered from $150,000 to $140,000.

Defense attorney Paul Geller asked Judge Frederick McDonald for a more reasonable bond. "For what it's worth, I think Mr. Powell is being treated different than other defendants," he said, adding that although the charges are serious, they are lower-level felonies.

Mr. Geller also added that he intends to file a motion for a change of venue to find a more impartial jury pool.

According to police, Mr. Powell, of 772 Bush St., was with Robert Jobe when they were stopped Feb. 21 by Detective Dressel and two other undercover officers.

Mr. Powell is accused of being armed with a loaded 9mm handgun and carrying crack cocaine when he was arrested.

Proceedings have been held in Lucas County Juvenile Court to determine whether the Jobe youth should be tried as an adult.

He is charged with delinquency in connection with aggravated murder in 35-year-old Detective Dressel's death.