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WARREN -- A former Warren police officer, who had to be shot with a nonlethal bean bag gun to be subdued, is now facing charges -- accused of pointing a gun at police officers in Niles.
Jeffrey R. Hoolihan, 60, of Stepney Street in Niles, also is accused of attempting to flee from arrest during the incident last Friday.
A caller reported that Hoolihan was "very intoxicated" and "causing a disturbance" at his home in the 1500 block of Stepney. He later would be charged with inducing panic and using weapons while intoxicated.
Appearing in Niles Municipal Court on Thursday, Hoolihan pleaded not guilty and waived his right to a preliminary hearing and posted a $5,000 bond.
A police report states Hoolihan got into an argument with his girlfriend and another man. The other man fought with Hoolihan for "20 to 30 minutes" trying to get him inside his home. Eventually they got him inside and let him sleep.
As police arrived, they began speaking with witnesses. Hoolihan then emerged and walked outside toward his pickup truck. Officers began approaching, believing he was attempting to leave in his vehicle.
Hoolihan's girlfriend tried to get the keys off of him and told him to "put that away" in reference to a firearm that she told police he had on him inside the vehicle.
After finding that Hoolihan was armed, police took cover as they began advising dispatch that they needed additional units at the home.
The report states that Hoolihan put the vehicle in reverse out of the driveway and slowly began driving south down South Rhodes Avenue as the additional police officers arrived at the home.
While Hoolihan was stopped at the intersection of South Rhodes and Phillips avenues, police used their public address system to command him to exit the vehicle with his hands up.
Initially, the report states, Hoolihan did exit the vehicle and comply by placing his hands over his head as he walked toward officers. But along the way, he began walking toward the back of the vehicle while ignoring police commands.
After 15 minutes of trying to reason with Hoolihan, he started driving his vehicle again at slow speeds down South Rhodes eventually traveling to Phillip. Officers at that point believed that Hoolihan was attempting to drive back to his residence, according to the report.
Officers laid out spike strips along the intersection of Phillips and South Rhodes but Hoolihan drove over spikes, causing them to puncture all four tires.
Police took cover, one of whom was pointing a bean bag shotgun at Hoolihan, as police again tried getting him to comply.
When Hoolihan finally stepped out of the vehicle, an officer could see the firearm in his right hand but he refused to drop the gun when told to do so, the report states.
Two bean bag rounds were fired at Hoolihan, hitting him in the lower back and causing him to fall to the ground. Police were able to arrest him without further incident.
A firearm loaded with five rounds was taken by police.
Hoolihan was taken to Trumbull Regional Medical Center for observation on a 72-hour hold.