ASHTABULA — Stephen Boles charges he almost died from the beating he suffered at the hands of city police on Jan. 28.
He talked about his ordeal Friday shortly before his initial court appearance before Municipal Court Judge Jon Fields.
“My brains were hanging out,” said Boles, 36, who arrived at court in a wheelchair. “I lost a lot of blood … suffered a broken vertebra, two cracks in my skull. They hurt my leg, and I took several blows to the head. He was hitting me with a stick more than 20 times.”
Boles said two white police officers — a female and a male — beat him brutally and stunned him with a TASER device outside his Jefferson Avenue home before his arrest.
Police Chief Robert Stell has said that Boles was combative. Boles said he was acting in self-defense.
Stell said drugs and an assault rife and ammunition were discovered at the scene.
Boles’ girlfriend, Stephanie Lasher of Ashtabula, said, “No one deserves to be beat.”
City Solicitor Michael Franklin has charged Boles with possession of crack cocaine, a second-degree felony; possession of drugs, a third-degree felony; two counts of criminal tools, fifth-degree felonies; and trafficking drugs, a fifth-degree felony, according to Municipal Court records. Boles also was charged with three misdemeanors: obstruction of official business and resisting arrest and possession of marijuana, according to court records.
On Friday, Youngstown attorneys Mark Hanni and Thomas Michaels, who represent Boles, appeared in court and assured the judge their client would return to court if given a personal-recognizance bond.
“He needs continuous medical treatment,” Hanni said.
Franklin said he wouldn’t want to interfere with Boles’ treatment. Franklin also said he believes Boles will appear in court because he has heard Boles intends to sue the city and his court appearances will benefit him.
Fields agreed that Boles needs medical treatment and set a $62,000 personal-recognizance bond.
Boles waived his right to a speedy trial, and court officials will set dates for a pretrial and a preliminary hearing.
After the court appearance, Boles continued to insist he is innocent and never has been convicted of a drug crime.
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Man claiming police beat him appears in court
Stephen Boles free on $62,000 personal-recognizance bond
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