One train shooter appears in court
Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 29, 2008
A man arrested for allegedly shooting at a passing train earlier this spring was arraigned on a six-count indictment Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court; another man arrested in connection with the same incident was supposed to have appeared in court for sentencing but he was a no-show.
Vincent Arthur, 24, of 1726 Phillips St., Ironton, was arraigned on three counts of assault on a peace officer and one count each of improperly discharging a firearm and using a weapon while intoxicated, all felonies, as well as one count of misdemeanor resisting arrest.
He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Mark McCown.
Judge D. Scott Bowling allowed a $50,000 bond set in Ironton Municipal Court to be transferred to his court. He also ordered Arthur to return to court June 25 for a pretrial conference.
An alleged cohort, Lowell Ratliff Jr., 26, of 1486 County Road 21, Ironton, was supposed to have been sentenced for his part in that incident but he failed to appear. Judge Charles Cooper ordered a bench warrant for Ratliff’s arrest.
Ratliff had pleaded guilty May 21 to one count each of improperly discharging a firearm and using a firearm while intoxicated.
The case against a third man, Urian Benicker, 24, of 516 Hecla St., is pending.
On the evening of March 28, Ironton police were called to the Cliff Street apartments after a caller said men with guns were shooting at a passing train. Officers said the train was not hit and alcohol likely played a role in the incident.