WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren OhioTwo Youngstown women accused of assaulting police prepare to go on trial

Two Youngstown women accused of assaulting police prepare to go on trial

Updated:

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The jury was sworn in on Tuesday in the criminal case against Desiree Johnson and Doretha Weston both of Youngstown.

The trial for the two women begins on Thursday.

The defendants have always maintained that they were allegedly assaulted by two members of the Youngstown Police Department's Street Crimes Unit during a traffic stop on May 30th, 2011. The stop was related to failing to signal before a left hand turn.

But police charged the women with obstructing official business, resisting arrest and assault on a police officer. According to the police report, Johnson punched both officers in the face.

Johnson says the traffic stop that resulted in her arrest is the result of retaliation by Lieutenant Kevin Mercer and Officer Patrick Mulligan after she filed an internal affairs complaint against them in 2009.

She alleged they pulled a gun on her 12-year-old son as he was running home after playing basketball. She also says they physically searched him. At the time, the police chief said the officers pointed their weapons at the 12-year-old's aggressive dog, not the child.

Johnson and Weston also filed an internal affairs complaint against the same police officers alleging they used excessive force during the May 30th traffic stop. Internal Affairs eventually ruled before a trial could be held, that the allegations against the officers were unfounded.

But as the defendants fight to clear their names, they have filed two civil lawsuits against the police officers accusing them of violating their civil rights and the rights of Johnson's 12-year-old son.