Staff Report

John Brian Craft

SYRACUSE — A Syracuse man was arrested after a fight at a Verizon Wireless store resulted in the discovery of drugs.

John Brian Craft, 44, 7146 E. CR 1000N, Syracuse, is charged with possession of methamphetamine with enhancing circumstances, a level 5 felony; domestic battery, resisting law enforcement and carrying a handgun without a license, all class A misdemeanors; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

On Dec. 3, Syracuse Police officers went to a Verizon Wireless store regarding a physical fight between a man and woman. Upon arrival, officers saw a group of people gathered outside of the store.

According to court documents, as officers approached the group, a man, later identified as Craft, appeared visibly agitated and would not stop yelling. Craft refused to provide officers with his identification.

The woman involved in the argument told officers Craft’s name. One of the officers asked the woman to step over to his vehicle in order to determine what happened and separate the parties. As the officer and the woman started to walk away, Craft shouted that the woman wasn’t going anywhere and allegedly began to approach the officer in an aggressive manner.

When the officer asked Craft to step back, Craft started to provoke a fight with a by-stander. The officer asked Craft to put his arms behind his back in an attempt to detain him. Craft immediately began to struggle with the officer, causing the two to fall to the ground. While on the ground, Craft continued to resist arrest; two bystanders assisted the officer in gaining control of Craft.

Eventually, Craft was put into the officer’s police vehicle, where he continued to yell and physically kick the vehicle’s back window.

The woman in an altercation with Craft told officers she went to the store to change her phone when Craft showed up and tried to make her leave.

Three witnesses said they saw Craft and the woman arguing and also saw Craft put his arm around the woman’s neck.

Court documents state Verizon management asked that Craft be trespassed from the property and his vehicle towed from their lot. While on the scene, officers found the plate on Craft’s vehicle was false and fictitious. The plate returned to a black 2014 Ford F250 when Craft’s vehicle was a white Ford Excursion.

While searching Craft’s vehicle, officers found a small black bag containing a pipe with methamphetamine residue, a clear bag containing methamphetamine and a firearm with one round in the magazine. Officers determined that Craft does not have a valid handgun permit.

Craft has a status conference for this case at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 25.