Published: July 15, 2008 11:52 pm            

City man, father arrested after fight injures cop

A Johnstown man was jailed Tuesday after he allegedly threatened to shoot his girlfriend with a stolen revolver and then wrestled with police.

A police officer was injured and the man’s father also was arrested in the late Monday/early Tuesday incident. In a criminal complaint, city police said they responded to an Oakhurst Homes apartment on a report of a woman abducted at gunpoint.

Witnesses told police Jermaine Anthony Simms, 29, forced his girlfriend into a blue Saturn and fled to a home on Decker Avenue.

Simms was found on the front porch. When police attempted to take him into custody, he allegedly fought with the detective, who wrestled him to the ground.

Other officers arrived and Simms was handcuffed. While he was being taken to a patrol car, the Simms’ father, Paul Simms, punched an officer in the head, authorities said. The elder Simms then wrestled with police attempting to arrest him, according to court papers.

During the scuffle, Officer Robert Sabo was accidentally shot by another officer with a Taser and taken to a city hospital. He is expected to return to duty, police Chief Craig Foust said.

City police recovered a Taurus .45-caliber pistol they found on the porch. They said the gun’s hammer was cocked and the weapon was ready to fire.

The weapon was reported stolen July 6 from an unlocked car, West Hills Regional Police said.

Jermaine Simms was arraigned by District Judge Michael Musulin of Johnstown on charges of aggravated and simple assault, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property and terroristic threats. He also was charged as a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and sent to the Cambria County Prison on $150,000 bond.

Paul Simms, 55, was arraigned on counts of aggravated and simple assault, resisting arrest and obstructing the administration of law.

He was jailed in lieu of $25,000 bond.

        

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