Rep. Young won't resign; Police report says child witnessed him slap woman, throw phone
State Rep. Bob Young crashed through a glass storm door, pushed by a relative who blocked the state lawmaker from reaching other family members Friday, according to police reports released to the Beacon Journal on Tuesday.
The reports from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office include officer accounts of what witnesses, including a child, said about Young’s alleged assaults last week on two family members. Other records requested by the Beacon Journal, including 911 tapes, body-worn camera footage, witness statements and officer notes, have not been released.
Young, a two-term Republican from Green, pleaded not guilty Saturday to two misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and one felony count of disrupting public services, after he allegedly stopped a female family member from calling police for help after she said he slapped her in the face.
Young’s attorney, John Greven, confirmed Wednesday that Young will not resign as requested by Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens, who attended the fundraiser and after-party but left before the alleged domestic disturbance.
A Summit County grand jury will decide whether Young should be indicted on the felony charge, which would send the case to Summit County Common Pleas Court.
The allegations of domestic violence began at 1 a.m. Friday at Young’s house on Greensburg Road, where a private party was held following a GOP fundraiser.
According to the short police report provided by the sheriff's office Tuesday, a child in Young's home who was awakened by arguing looked out a window to see Young slap a female family member in the face. The child also saw Young throw the woman’s phone into the swimming pool when "she told Young she was going to call 911."
The report states that the argument started between Young and a friend of the female family member. The female family member then put her hand over Young’s face. The lawmaker allegedly grabbed the woman’s arm and struck the left side of her face with an open hand.
That prompted the woman to flee Young’s house. She arrived around 2 a.m. at a relative’s home about a mile away. Eight hours later, Young showed up at the relative’s house.
The relative met Young on the front stoop, where the second allegation of domestic violence occurred.
The relative “told Robert (Bob) that he was not welcome and was not allowed to enter the house. At which point, Robert lowered his shoulder and charged at (the relative) in an attempt to enter the home without permission. At the point of initial contact, a scuffle ensued, (the relative) defended himself, pushed back on Robert and Robert went through the glass storm door," the police report states.
Police say the relative sustained cuts from the broken glass.
In court Saturday, Barberton Municipal Judge Todd McKenney banned Young from returning to the Greensburg Road home. The restraining order requires Young to have no contact with the female victim and to relinquish all deadly weapons in his possession to authorities pending the outcome of the case.
State rep. faces criminal charges: Ohio Speaker Stephens asks Rep. Bob Young of Green to resign amid domestic violence charges
The male family member who alleged that Young attacked him on his front stoop did not request a restraining order, but police filed for one on his behalf. Young works with this relative at their family business, Young’s Auction Center in Springfield. The judge asked Young and the relative “to find a way to make (the restraining order) work the best that you can.”
Reach reporter Doug Livingston at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3792.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Rep. Bob Young won't resign after domestic violence arrest
