Man pleads innocent in grocery robbery

NILES -- A 46-year-old Warren man pleaded innocent Wednesday to charges stemming from a grocery store robbery that ended after a police chase.
Keith A. Gunther, of Third Street, appeared Wednesday before municipal Judge Thomas W. Townley on charges of aggravated robbery, failure to comply with a police officer, felonious assault, reckless operation and leaving the scene of an accident.
He is being held in the Trumbull County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Wednesday.
According to police, Gunther was stopped while leaving Macali's Giant Eagle on Vienna Avenue shortly before 6:30 p.m. The manager stopped him and accused him of not paying for four steaks.
Police said that after they were called, Gunther pulled a knife, a scuffle followed and Gunther and the manager suffered hand cuts.
Before police arrived, Gunther fled in a car. Warren police picked up the chase, whichended when Gunther crashed into a pole on Mahoning Avenue in Warren.