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Man arraigned on gun charge in fatal shooting

Police investigate 'officer-involved' incident that followed report of fight on victim's street

By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008

A 27-year-old Akron man was arraigned Monday morning on weapons charges and other alleged offenses in what police have called an ''officer-involved'' fatal shooting early Saturday on Celina Avenue.

Reginald A. ''Reggie'' Valentine, who gave an address in the 400 block of Fernwood Drive, pleaded not guilty to charges of having a weapon under felony disability, in addition to alleged misdemeanors of aggravated menacing and discharging a firearm.

Akron Police Lt. Rick Edwards, the department's spokesman, declined to comment on any details about the fatal shooting, saying the incident was under departmental investigation.

But Edwards did say that officers were placed on paid leave in connection with the investigation. He did not say how many.

Police Capt. Dan Zampelli said the procedure is ''common practice'' for officers involved in any type of shooting.

According to police dispatch records, four officers responded to a 911 call at 4:40 a.m. about a fight with ''weapons involved'' at 1000 Celina Ave.

At 4:44 a.m., officers reported that the victim, Jeffery Stephens, 42, had been shot and that the officers were ''all OK.''

Dispatch records show the officers who responded to the Celina Avenue shooting were Jude J. Carroll and Michael J. Orrand as the ''primary'' officers. James P. Gilbride and Todd R. Hough responded as ''backup'' officers.

Those records do not indicate which of the officers was involved in the fatal shooting of Stephens, who was described by family members as a self-employed landscaper with 12 children.

Johnson Stephens, the victim's 47-year-old brother, said there had been a Fourth of July party at the home at 1000 Celina and that his brother was inside with his family when the shots were fired about 4:30 a.m.

Jeffery Stephens then exited the home with a gun, his brother said.

''Like any other man would do. Came out with his gun, to protect his home,'' Johnson Stephens said.

Emergency calls

The first 911 call — from a woman at 1000 Celina who was screaming and crying — was mostly unintelligible. But she reported at 4:40 a.m. that children were inside and that a man with a gun was ''shooting at [the] house,'' the dispatch records show.

Two minutes later, another woman from the neighborhood called 911 and reported hearing five gunshots. Less than a minute afterward, the woman also reported hearing ''four or five more shots.''

''Them people are nuts,'' the caller said.

That same woman, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals, said in a telephone conversation Monday evening that she knew Jeffery Stephens well.

''I grew up with him,'' she said. ''Overall, he's a good guy. He is not a troublemaker. I've just known him as someone who would do anything to help and protect his kids.''

The woman said that one of Jeffery Stephens' sons has been involved frequently in fights in the neighborhood and that she feels Jeffery Stephens was caught in the middle of Saturday's shooting while trying to protect that son.

''He's protective of his kids as anybody would be,'' she said.

Court appearance

Sketchy circumstances about the shooting were discussed in court arguments over Valentine's bond at his video arraignment before Municipal Court Judge Kathryn Michael.

The judge set bond at $10,000 cash, and Valentine was being held in the Summit County jail pending his next court appearance on July 23 before Common Pleas Magistrate John H. Shoemaker.

Valentine's lawyer, Charles R. Quinn, declined to comment on the incident, saying it was inappropriate because he was still in the process of reviewing police evidence.

According to Summit County court records, Valentine has a pending felony case for burglary, carrying concealed weapons, resisting arrest and other alleged offenses for an incident in April. He was scheduled to go to trial in that case before Common Pleas Judge Mary F. Spicer on Aug. 25.

A neighbor of Jeffery Stephens said his family is planning a memorial vigil at 9 p.m. Wednesday at West Thornton Street and Celina.

Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.

A 27-year-old Akron man was arraigned Monday morning on weapons charges and other alleged offenses in what police have called an ''officer-involved'' fatal shooting early Saturday on Celina Avenue.

Get the full article here.


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