YOUNGSTOWN - Frank Hill told Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge R. Scott Krichbaum during his sentencing Wednesday that if he were placed on probation, he would seek treatment for his anger issues.
When he was informed he would not be given probation for assaulting a police officer, his temper was on display.
Hill, 43, of Oak Street, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for assault on a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony. An additional sentence of one year for a charge of aggravated menacing will run concurrently to the assault charge.
He was accused of trying to tackle and threatening to shoot a police officer at the scene of an automobile accident.
Hill, who tearfully told Krichbaum he would seek counseling on his own, crumpled up the piece of paper his statement was written on when Krichbaum said he would serve prison time and started talking over the judge, saying, ''I got railroaded, I got railroaded.''
Krichbaum told him to keep quiet or he would be held in contempt of court.
Fact Box
Sentenced
WHO: Frank Hill, 43, Youngstown
CHARGE: Assaulting a peace officer, aggravated menacing
SENTENCE: 18 months for assault; concurrent one year on menacing
''It would be wise to shut up while I'm talking,'' Krichbaum told him. ''I can see why you got in trouble with this police officer. You can't control your emotions.''
Hill was charged after a July 18 accident at Jacobs Road and Beechwood Avenue on the East Side. Reports state officer Lindsay Pallo responded to the two-car accident and that Hill was threatening the other driver before she got there. That driver was at fault in the accident.
Hill was on a gurney about to be placed in an ambulance when he became irate because Pallo would not immediately give him the other driver's insurance information and name. He got up and threatened to shoot Pallo in the head, reports state.
Pallo tried to handcuff him, but he punched her and later he tried to take her to the ground after she was able to cuff him after zapping him with a Taser, according to police reports.
Hill said he knows he has an anger problem and said through tears he would seek help. He said he wants to be around to take care of his children, and at the time of the accident, he was worried about a child in his car and was suffering from a head injury.
''Mentally, I was confused and nervous,'' Hill said. ''I take full responsibility.''
Krichbaum said Hill has been arrested several times and never sought help before. He also said that a basic rule of life is ''...you don't disrespect a cop. You just can't do it. It's just one of the things. There's no excuse, there's no explanation for assaulting a peace officer.''
Krichbaum said he would not give Hill probation even if Pallo had asked for it. She was present for the sentencing
While police often deal with unruly people and put themselves in danger, Krichbaum said Pallo was responding to an accident and her job was to sort out the details and to get help for anyone who may been injured.
''Some of that is part of the job, but investigating an auto accident and have someone threaten to kill you and someone assault you and disrespect you, no one understands that,'' Krichbaum said.