Three Canton Township residents arrested in fight last month
State Trooper Chad Weaver places Brian Durbin of Canton Township into a cruiser.
Shawn J. Durbin
Brian Keith Durbin
Crystal Marie Bruce
Three residents of a Canton Township mobile home park were arrested Friday morning by state police on charges including riot stemming from a fight last month near their homes.
Arrested were Brian Keith Durbin, 42, of 849 Henderson Ave., Trailer 13, and Shawn J. Durbin, 33, and Crystal Marie Bruce, 32, both of 849 Henderson, Trailer 12. All three are charged with riot, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, harassment and public drunkenness stemming from the May 9 fight outside their homes. The Durbins are also charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and simple assault.
Trooper Chad Weaver, who filed the charges, said police were initially called to the trailer park about 8:45 p.m. for a report of a fight involving about 15 people with a 9mm handgun being brandished.
When Weaver arrived, the two Durbins were in the middle of the road with their hands wrapped around each other’s necks. The trooper ordered both men to stop fighting, but they continued and ignored continued commands to stop. Weaver told Brian Durbin to release his hands and when he ignored the order, a Taser was used on his back and he immediately let go. Shawn Durbin got up and tried to punch Brian Durbin in the face, police said.
When Weaver tried to use his Taser on Shawn Durbin to take him into custody, Bruce reportedly tried to interfere. Weaver was unable to successfully use the Taser because of Bruce’s alleged interference, according to court documents.
Weaver pushed Bruce out of the way and followed Shawn Durbin for a short distance. He then returned to Brian Durbin, who was on the ground, and ordered him to move onto his stomach as Weaver waited for backup to arrive. When Trooper Matthew Terkay arrived, he took Brian Durbin into custody as Weaver went to look for Shawn Durbin. He found him between several vehicles. When Shawn Durbin would not comply with orders to come out, Weaver again used his Taser and Durbin fell to the ground. As he struggled with troopers as they tried to take him into custody, police said Bruce ran toward them with an unknown object. She was then hit by Weaver and fell against a car and hit the ground. Bruce reportedly struggled with Washington police Officer Michael Cain as he tried to take her into custody.
The two Durbins were taken to Washington Hospital for treatment of head and facial injuries but signed themselves out an hour after they arrived, Weaver said. Bruce refused treatment.
During his arraignment before District Judge Robert Redlinger, Shawn Durbin said the statements alleged in court documents were false.
“That’s why you get an attorney,” Redlinger told him. “You have the right to remain silent.”
Bruce shook her head in apparent disagreement as Redlinger read the charges against her. When the judge asked her if she understood the charges, she responded, “Not really. I wasn’t even drinking.”
All three were placed in Washington County jail on $100,000 bond. A preliminary hearing for the trio is tentatively scheduled for June 17 before District Judge David Mark.
Assisting were police from Chartiers and North Franklin townships and Washington.