Tribune Chronicle
WARREN - Two city residents held in connection with a weekend abduction and robbery remained at the Trumbull County Jail on Monday unable to post bond, jail staff confirmed.
Taylor Ervin-Williams, 19, 354 Belmont St. N.W., is accused of abducting members of a local family at gunpoint, then hiding inside a home on Belmont Street N.W., where Breyaja Emerson, 19, tried to convince police no one was inside, officers said.
The pair was arraigned Monday. Although bond was set at $325,000 for Ervin-Williams, a hold was placed on him for violating his probation. No bond was set for Emerson, and a probation violation hold also was placed on her.
According to police, Ervin-Williams barged into a home on Charles Avenue S.E. disguised in a bandanna or hoodie, held a gun on a woman and her 19-year-old son who was sleeping on the couch, and demanded money.
Two younger children were sleeping elsewhere in the house.
The 19-year-old and his mother were forced to drive Ervin-Williams to an ATM at the intersection of West Market Street and Tod Avenue N.W. about 10:45 p.m., according to police. Once there, the gunman got about $300 from the victim's account and another $40 in cash they had. The victims ran away and called police, leaving Ervin-Williams with their car, police said.
Officers on both shifts became involved late Friday and early Saturday. They spotted the stolen car near the Charles home and chased it through the downtown area, before Ervin-Williams jumped out of the car near the intersection of Belmont and School Street N.W.
Officers tracked Ervin-Williams to 354 Belmont, where they said he entered and managed to sneak into an adjoining apartment at 352 Belmont.
Police said they found him pretending to be asleep in bed in the adjoining apartment. Officers said he was identified by the victims. The bandanna and a toy gun were found in a dresser near where he was pretending to sleep, police said.
Ervin-Williams faces charges of abduction, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and failure to comply with the order or signal of police. Emerson, who also lives at 354 Belmont, faces charges of obstructing justice.