ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP —
A Court Street man whose house suffered extensive fire damage faces a disorderly conduct charge after he and his “new” wife got involved in an altercation with two others Thursday evening.
According to the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office report, James M. Charles, 43, of 3306 Court St., and Tammy M. Forney-Charles, 33, of 1705 West 3rd., were taunted by two motorists who drove by the house where a fire had occurred earlier in the day. The motorists were identified as Michael J. Harper, 38, of 1700 E. 47th, and Daphne Harris, 46, of 3206 Fargo Drive.
Witnesses said the couple yelled and clapped as they drove by the house. The car pulled into a drive a couple of doors from the Charles house, and an altercation ensued.
James Charles entered the vehicle and fought with Harper, according to the statements of several witnesses. Harris reportedly retrieved a revolver from the vehicle’s glove box and Harper told her to shoot Charles. One witness reported seeing Harris hold the gun to Charles’ head.
A neighbor called 9-1-1 and a deputy was on the scene within seconds. He observed the four persons standing next to the car at 3230 Court St. and yelling and acting violently toward each other. He noted that both James Charles and Harper were bloody and had visible injuries; blood was observed inside the car, as well.
When the persons failed to follow the deputy’s requests to stop fighting, he called for backup from two additional units. Three patrolmen from the Ashtabula Police Department also responded. The deputy found the loaded revolver and a fully loaded speed loader on the floor of the car and disengaged the weapon.
The four persons continued to yell and scream at each other even after they were handcuffed, the deputy reported.
Charles required stitches to injuries on his arm and leg; the report did not state if the injuries resulted from the fight or an earlier attempt to save the contents of his burning home. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
The other three were taken to the Ashtabula County Jail.
Harris faces charges of aggravated disorderly conduct, aggravated menacing and felonious assault. Ashtabula Municipal Court had previously issued Harris a temporary protective order against Charles, according to the report.
Forney-Charles, Harper and James Charles face disorderly conduct charges.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, said Ashtabula Township Fire Chief Mike Fitchet. “We have a tentative cause but it is still under investigation,” he said.
Fitchet said the fire caused an estimated $40,000 in damage.
Charles apparently attempted to get into the house during the fire and cut himself on a screen door, Fitchet said. “He told us he was trying to get his dog,” he said.
Fitchet said the Red Cross was notified but he didn’t know if Charles stayed in the house Thursday night.
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