Man arrested after domestic disturbance

MILAN TWP. — A Milan man is facing felony charges after a Tuesday morning domestic incident allegedly turned into road rage. James A. Speer, 41, of the 1400 block of Ohio 113 E., is facing two counts of second-degree felony felonious assault, two counts of fourth-degree felony domestic violence, one fourth-degree felony count of endangering children, one fifth-degree felony count of possessing criminal tools and one misdemeanor count of criminal damaging. After midnight, 911 dispatchers received a call from a woman who said Speer rammed her car on Shaw Mill Road, according to Erie County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Hayden Service. The woman fled from Speer south on Milan Road and ended up in Norwalk. While on the phone with dispatchers, she was instructed to drive to the Norwalk Police Department, according to an Erie County Sheriff's Office report. Speer reportedly stopped pursuing the woman near the Friendship gas station on Milan Avenue. Norwalk police intercepted the woman's vehicle near Schild's IGA. She was taken to the police station to begin working on a written statement. While deputies spoke with the woman, Speer reportedly called and texted her numerous times. She was instructed not to respond. She was also able to determine that Speer was at his Milan Township residence. The woman told deputies that she believed Speer would flee into the woods near his home if confronted and that he has access to firearms at the residence. With the help of state troopers, a deputy set up a perimeter near Speer's Ohio 113 East home. Due to previous interactions with Speer and the likelihood of him having access to firearms, it was determined the county's special response team would be deployed. Deputies assembled at the Milan Township Hall and awaited the arrival of a Bearcat special response vehicle. Charges were drawn up and a deputy took them to Judge C.J. Kamm for clerking. While that was happening, two deputies got into position at the rear of Speer's residence, the report states. While there, Speer exited the house and deputies ordered him to the ground at gunpoint. He was taken into custody. Speer was taken to Erie County Jail. As of late Tuesday, he is held there under a $135,000 bond. He has an arraignment scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday in Erie County Municipal Court.