Lorain woman sentenced for resisting arrest

Gets 30 days in jail for June incident

A 27-year-old Lorain woman was sentenced March 26 to 30 days in jail and three years of community control for assaulting a police officer after a party in June 2017.

Ruqqahi Bell pleaded guilty Feb. 5 to two counts of assault and single counts of obstructing official business and resisting arrest in connection to the altercation.

Bell already had served 37 days in jail after her initial arrest, so she will not be required to serve any more.

Before handing down the sentence, Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge John R. Miraldi asked Bell if she had sought treatment for her drinking.

“When you drink, you get nasty,” Miraldi said. “Look where it’s landed you and you’re not off the hook yet.

“You’re going to have three years of supervision. You’re only 27; you need to get this straightened out.”

Bell said she’s not received help with her drinking, but she would like to go to Alcoholics Anonymous. However, she’s hampered because of raising four children.

As part of the sentence, Bell is ordered to receive alcohol evaluation, treatment and counseling.

Also as a term of her community control, there is zero tolerance for alcohol. If she tests positive for alcohol, she can be sent to prison for up to 17 months.

According to a Lorain police report, officers were called around 9:13 p.m. June 21 to a home in the 1100 block of West 12th Street for a disturbance, where they found about 10 people arguing outside the residence.

While the officers investigated, an intoxicated Bell was attempting to fight people around the home.

Officers ordered her to stop screaming, but she refused and was taken into custody, the report said.

When officers attempted to secure Bell, she resisted and additional personnel were required to put her in handcuffs, the report said.

Bell resisted her arrest yet again when officers attempted to place her into a cruiser by falling to the ground and refusing to get inside.

When officers picked her up and placed her inside the vehicle, she kneed one of them in the groin, the release said.

Once inside the cruiser, Bell attempted to kick out one of the rear windows.

An officer opened the door, and Bell proceeded to attempt to kick him as well, the report said. Bell only complied after an officer removed his stun gun from its holster and pointed it at her, the report said.

Bell