Staff report

WARREN — Two Trumbull County men were arrested earlier this week following allegations of threats to a local animal investigator and a child’s safety that also led to the discovery of a concealed firearm during the incident.

Brian E. Miller, 45, of Warren, and Dontay Miller, 18, of Girard, are scheduled to appear before Judge Natash K. Natale in Warren Municipal Court Sept. 16, following their arrest Tuesday on multiple charges, including carrying a concealed weapon and child endangering.

Dontay Miller faces charges of carrying a concealed weapon, a fourth-degree felony, and obstructing official business, a misdemeanor.

Both men appeared via video for their arraignment and agreed to be represented by a public defender, waiving any conflict of interest since they are co-defendants.

Brian Miller’s bond was set at $20,000, with a condition that he have no contact with Jason Cooke.

He also has pending charges in another case for failure to comply and misuse of the 911 system. As of Thursday, both men remained in the Trumbull County jail.

The arrests stem from an incident where the men were found in possession of a hidden firearm and engaged in actions that put a child at risk, a police report states. Both were arraigned Wednesday before Judge Patty Knepp and both pleaded not guilty to their charges.

According to a Warren Police Department report, officers were called to the area Tuesday after Jason Cooke, director of Healthy Hearts and Paws and animal control officer for Warren, reported receiving threats. Cooke also alerted police about a possible abandoned dog and a child living in a condemned house on Idylwild Street NE.

When police arrived, they found Brian Miller on the porch of the home, yelling at officers and refusing to open the door, the report states.

A 2-year-old child was with him, and the home had no running utilities, with a notice stating it should have been vacated that day. Officers arrested Brian Miller after he locked the screen door and continued shouting, disturbing neighbors. He faces misdemeanor charges of aggravated menacing, child endangering, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.

Dontay Miller was also at the scene, according to investigators.

Police say he made “smart remarks” and shined a flashlight in an officer’s face, blocking their view. When officers tried to arrest him, he resisted by pulling away and dropping to the ground. A search of his backpack revealed a loaded handgun, a box of ammunition and loose rounds, the report states.

Police also found a “severely underweight” dog in the backyard, which Cooke took into his care. In a Facebook post, Cooke said Healthy Hearts and Paws has taken in 20 dogs since Sept. 1 and is caring for more than 95 animals. He asked for public donations to help support its work.