The Youngstown convenience store owner arrested by federal agents at his Lordstown home on Wednesday remains jailed without bond on a charge of forcibly assaulting and resisting a federal law enforcement officer.

Sixty-year-old George Rafidi appeared in U.S. District Court in Youngstown on Thursday following a confrontation the day before during an attempt to search Rafidi's home at 2941 Pleasant Valley Drive in Lordstown.

Agents from the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, U.S. Marshals and Immigration and Customs Enforcement simultaneously executed search warrants at the home, as well as Rafidi's Breaden Market, 1026 Overland Ave., Youngstown, as part of a what Rafidi's attorney Dennis DiMartino, described as a food stamp investigation.

A criminal complaint filed by Deputy United States Marshal Dan DeVille says that he and other agents wore gear clearly identifying them as federal authorities when he repeatedly knocked on the door of the Rafidi home, and announced they were there to execute a search warrant.

DeVille says officers could see Rafidi through the windows of the home.

The complaint says that when Rafidi opened the door, he pointed a handgun at the officers.  USDA Special Agent Bob Springer jumped over a front porch railing, dislocating his shoulder. 

DeVille says several shots were fired at Rafidi, who went back into his home and shut the door. Officers shouted outside the home, calling on Rafidi to drop the weapon and come outside with his hands up. Rafidi eventually complied, and was arrested.

Attorney DiMartino tells 21 News that Rafidi admits that he answered the door with a gun in his hand, but believes authorities overreacted and fired shots into the house.

“I went to his residence last night and you can clearly see the bullet path going through the screen of the screen door going through at a horizontal angle and shooting into the door jam,” said DiMartino. “So at least three shots were fired into the house."

The complaint says during an interview after his arrest, Rafidi recounted the experience,  saying he was awaked by the sound of someone beating on his front door.

He then armed himself with a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver and walked to the front door.  Rafidi told investigators that he saw the Lordstown Police cars and officers in uniform.

Rafidi told agents that the authorities, "scattered like crazy when I opened the door with the gun in my hand." He said when police shot at him, he retreated into the home.

Agent Springer was taken to Saint Elizabeth Health Center for treatment of his shoulder injury. No one else was injured during the encounter. 

Lordstown Police Chief  Brent Milhoan did not reveal which of his officers fired the shots during the confrontation. Neighbors told 21 News they heard four gunshots.

Because one of his officers was involved in the shooting incident, Chief Milhoan summoned agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to collect evidence at the home.

Chief Milhoan says the officer has been placed on leave during the investigation.

A federal prosecutor says if Rafidi is convicted of assaulting a federal officer, he could be sentenced up to twenty years in prison. Rafidi is scheduled for another court hearing next Tuesday.

Federal officials are not commenting on the investigation linked to the search warrants.

According to state records, Rafidi operates five corporations in Ohio. His holdings include the Craig Beach Market on Grandview Road in addition to the Breaden Market.

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