Man who punched someone in front of cops arrested after foot pursuit downtown: report

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Reports said a man who was arrested by police early Sunday morning following a foot chase downtown had a gun that he threw away during the chase.

Bryce Bunofksy, 23, was booked into the Mahoning County jail on charges of obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony; possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony; tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; and aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor.

He is expected to be arraigned on Monday afternoon in municipal court.

Reports said police on patrol on Commerce Street at about 2:25 a.m. encountered Bunofsky, who was part of a large crowd and was pummeling a man in front of police.

When the officers turned on their lights and sirens Bunofksy ran away, reports said. As he did he tossed a gun, later found to be a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, over a fence on Hazel Street before he was caught.

After he was taken into custody reports said police found three bags of crack cocaine in his wallet.

Inside his car, which was parked illegally and searched before it was towed, police found another magazine of ammunition, reports said.

Reports said a witness told police he went downtown to pick up his girlfriend who just had an argument with Bunofsky. The witness saw Bunofsky reach towards his waistband like he had a gun and the witness saw the butt end of a pistol before Bunofsky began striking a man.

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