Gunpoint robbery

Gunpoint robbery
STRUTHERS -- A 46-year-old Poland man reported to city police that he was robbed at gunpoint of $1,300 after leaving National City Bank on South Bridge Street. The man said he left the bank around 10 a.m. Monday and had to wait for a train to pass at nearby tracks before heading west on State Street. He said he was in the 300 block when the driver of a blue Chevrolet approached his car, showed a badge and motioned for him to pull over, police reports said. The man pulled over, and the other driver, a male about 35 years old, approached and aimed a pistol at his face. He demanded the money the man had withdrawn from the bank and ordered him to lie down on the seat, reports said.
Assault charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 44-year-old man has been charged with felonious assault and aggravated menacing after a confrontation with Schools Superintendent Benjamin McGee in the parking lot outside board of education headquarters at 20 W. Wood St.
Arrested after the fight at 8:18 a.m. Monday was Reuben L. Smith, of Lakewood Avenue, who has a lawsuit pending against the board, according to reports. Smith was expected to be arraigned today in municipal court.
According to police reports, he asked McGee why he didn't telephone him, and McGee said he did try to call him.
The assailant called McGee a liar, pushed him in the chest, causing him to fall backward to the pavement, punched him in the right temple and threatened to shoot him, the police report says.
Drug arrests
BOARDMAN -- While arresting a 20-year-old Timberidge Drive, Youngstown, man in the theft of about $100 worth of merchandise from Value City Department Store on Sunday, police discovered several items in his pockets allegedly used to take illegal drugs. The man later admitted to illegally using OxyContin. He is charged with misdemeanor theft and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Township police also arrested a 17-year-old Erskine Avenue, Youngstown, boy Saturday on a drug trafficking warrant. The arrest was made after officers recognized the boy in the Market Street and Wilda Avenue area. He was taken to the Juvenile Justice Center.
Home burglarized
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Bonnie Brae Avenue homeowner discovered his house had been burglarized late Monday afternoon and a small safe with $4,000 and three diamond rings inside, a stereo system and 19-inch TV were stolen, reports show. The man returned to his West Side home around 5:30 p.m. to find that the intruder had broken a door glass to get in.
Cars vandalized
YOUNGSTOWN -- For the second time in three days, vehicles at Used Car Connection at 3205 Market St. were vandalized. On Saturday, the South Side business reported to police that 14 cars had been damaged -- broken windows and peeled steering columns. Later that day, another car was discovered damaged. Monday, six more cars were found damaged. A crowbar was found nearby.
Claims to be a cop
CANFIELD -- A 21-year-old Lisbon man and 21-year-old Salem woman told police they were the victims of road rage at the hands of a man claiming to be an off-duty police officer. According to police reports, the encounter occurred around 6:30 p.m. Saturday as the couple was traveling along East Main Street. The couple told police that when their car came to a stop, the driver of a light-colored sport utility vehicle jumped out and began pounding on the side window, ordering them to put the window down. Once the window was open, the man identified himself as a police officer. The victims recorded their assailant's license plate number and were able to identify the Portage County man.