Trending
LISBON -- A Poland man, whose refusal to follow the orders of police led to a Columbiana police officer being dragged by a vehicle two years ago, was sentenced to 60 days in jail by visiting Judge John G. Haas.
Brandon C. Davis, 46, East Western Reserve Road, read a lengthy apology, including to Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Pike, who at the time was serving on the Columbiana police department. He also thanked Pike and Assistant County Prosecutor Tammie Riley Jones for the plea agreement that recommended three years community control and 30 days in the county jail.
Davis also thanked a number of people who attended Friday's hearing in Common Pleas Court to support him.
"My actions were selfish," Davis said. "I am here because of my mistakes… This mandatory life lesson weighs on me."
Davis said he recently became a father and he worries he will not be available for his father, who is struggling with his health and will have to overcome this, despite being branded as a felon, which he called a "scarlet letter."
His attorney, Ronald Yarwood, pointed out that people who know Davis know this is not something he would do and he can tell this has weighed heavily on him for two years since the incident occurred. Davis also lost his job this week due to this case.
On July 24, 2019, Pike was directing traffic and tried to stop Davis at the intersection. Pike said Davis did stop, but then attempted to continue on. Smelling alcohol on Davis' breath, Pike said he reached for the car as Davis "was clearly looking for an exit." Not only did Davis drag Pike about 20 feet down the road by his arm, but continued to flee first in the vehicle and then got out of the vehicle and fled into an area where there was a vacant home and then into the woods. Davis let his own dog run loose, possibly as a distraction, before K-9 Csuti found Davis.
"I too am a father," said Pike, who said he agreed with the recommendation and accepted Davis' apology in court. "There's nothing harder than going home and telling your family what you've gone through."
Haas said in his 30 years on the bench in Stark County, he did not remember a case where someone failed to comply and dragged a police officer and did not receive prison time. Haas said this was not merely a lapse of judgment or a case where Davis panicked. This was one lapse in judgment, on another, on another.
He placed Davis on three years community control with anger management and other suggested classes, a $1,000 fine, a 100 hours of community service and 60 days in the county jail, double the recommended number of days. He also suspended Davis' license for three years.