NEWS

2 men arrested during Put-in-Bay's 'Christmas in July'

Jon Stinchcomb
Reporter
Isreal Colon

PUT-IN-BAY - Two men were arrested in separate incidents during one of Put-in-Bay’s busiest and most popular weekends, “Christmas in July.”

Isreal Colon Jr., 23, of Lakewood, is facing a charge of assault on a police officer, a fourth-degree felony, as well as resisting arrest and obstructing official business, both second-degree misdemeanors, according to Ottawa County Municipal Court records.

In the other incident, Christopher J. Staab Jr., 24, of Toledo, was arrested after allegedly causing a panic by bringing a gun and a knife into a Put-in-Bay bar.

Colon is accused of attacking a Put-in-Bay police officer from behind while the officer was dealing with the arrest of another suspect around 11 p.m. on Saturday.

According to the incident report, Colon spoke to police about his friend being arrested prior to the incident, but was told to leave the scene because he was “obstructing” officers’ ability to perform their duties.

Sometime later, Colon allegedly shoved Officer Tyler Orzech forcibly from behind, causing him to lose his balance. Orzech said in his report that he turned around and saw Colon in an aggressive stance.

Orzech said he grabbed Colon by the arm and took him to the ground, but Colon resisted. A security guard from a nearby bar helped the officer so Colon could be handcuffed with his hands behind his back.

According to the report, as police walked Colon back to the station, he continued to resist and made multiple verbal threats toward the officers. Colon was later taken to the Ottawa County Detention Facility.

Staab's arrest occurred just a few hours prior in an unrelated incident.

Christopher Staab

Staab is facing two counts of carrying a concealed weapon and a single count of inducing panic, all three of which are first-degree misdemeanor charges.

According to the incident report, a security guard from Mr. Ed’s Bar and Grille informed police that there was a man with a gun near the front entrance of the establishment.

As officers arrived at the scene, security guards reportedly had Staab on the ground as “panicked bystanders” looked on.

A Ruger 1911 handgun, which witnesses said security guards took away from Staab, was given to police, and Staab was placed under arrest. Officers searched Staab and reported finding a knife in his pants pocket.

The gun, a magazine with seven rounds of ammunition and the knife were all entered into evidence. Staab was also taken to the Ottawa County Detention Facility.

jstinchcom@gannett.com

419-680-4897

Twitter: @JonDBN