Two people are behind bars after a large fight/shooting at a local establishment in Alliance early Sunday morning.
Police were dispatched to Elks Lodge Sunday morning just after midnight after receiving two 911 calls about multiple shots fired, according to Alliance police records.
Damien Jones, 33, of Alliance was arrested at the 735 Ash. St. location after police observed him on top of another person, fighting him. When police pulled him off of one person, he refused to leave and continued trying to fight with other patrons of the bar. Witnesses told police that Jones started the entire incident.
Jones refused to identify himself and resisted arrest when police tried to place him in cuffs. When being escorted to the cruiser, Jones allegedly fought the entire way and had to be tased multiple times. The taser had no effect on him. Officers performed a knee strike to get Jones on the ground, where he kicked an officer in the chest multiple times.
Once secured in the rear of the police cruiser, Jones was transported to the Alliance City Jail for processing. While at the jail, he refused to hang up the phone while making personal calls and then squared up like he was going to fight an officer. The defendant had to be taken to the ground and handcuffed.
Jones was later transported to the Stark County Jail where he was booked on charges of Assault on a Police Officer (F4), Disorderly Conduct (M4), Obstructing Official Business (M2) and Resisting Officer (M2).
Police also arrested Shawndease L. Hicks, 31, of Alliance on charges of Disorderly Conduct (M4), Obstructing Justice (M2) and Resisting Officer (M2). Hicks is accused of blocking officers from assisting during the arrest of Jones. Police say she was intoxicated, screaming and “acted as if she was going to strike an officer.” Two officers were required to assist her to the cruiser because she continued to pull away and resist arrest, according to a report.
Hicks was transported to Alliance City Jail but released after “increasing tension” with another inmate.
Booking photos were not taken of either suspect due to non-cooperation or release from jail.
It’s unclear who fired the shots. The shooting/fight remains under investigation.