Events keep Ashtabula safety forces hopping during the wee hours

By: Shelley Terry - Star Beacon

ASHTABULA - - Suspicious fires, a fight, gunshots and a report of a man with a gun kept city police and firefighters busy early Friday morning, according to Ashtabula police and fire departments' reports.

A West 55th Street resident called police at 12:49 a.m. to report gunshots fired outside his home. When police arrived, they checked out the area to find out everything was OK, according to police reports.

At about 2 a.m., a caller told police a man walked into the Iroquois Lounge at 1128 Bridge St., with a gun, police reports show.

When police arrived, they discovered the doors to the bar locked and were unable to get inside, reports show.

When someone opened the door, patrons said the man with the gun had left.

"The place was hopping," Capt. Gerald Cornelius said. "People were playing pool, drinking beers and the music was on."

Bar owner, Randy Moore, said the doors are locked to keep the rift-raft out.

"We've had bad people coming in from down the street," he said. "The police are always welcome; all they have to do is call and we'll let them in."

At 2:40 a.m., police and firefighters were called to 5821 Washington Ave. for a garbage fire.

"Upon arrival, they discovered a small pile of clothes on fire in the street," fire Lt. Dennis Page said in his report. "Ashtabula police were on the scene talking to residents in the area about the fire."

Firefighters used a water can and a foam can to extinguish the blaze just in time to respond to a second call at 2:50 a.m., regarding a pile of clothes on fire on the sidewalk at 908 W. 41st St. and Coleman Avenue, reports show.

Residents gave police a description of a suspicious vehicle and police stopped the suspect at 2:53 a.m. in the 5200 block of West Ave.

Police found a small amount of marijuana on the suspect and issued him a summons to municipal court, reports show.