WARREN Cooperative effort nabs suspect

Police were able to recover the $4,000 before the robber had time to 'count it or spend it,' the chief says.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A man accused of robbing a woman of $4,000 was no match for the "over-the-hill gang," says Police Chief John Mandopoulos.
Mandopoulos noted that 20 minutes after a woman was robbed Friday in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Bazetta Township, police had a suspect in custody.
Police charged Ronald Davis, 27, of Paige Avenue with aggravated robbery.
"He was running away from Patrol Officer Joe Dixon and ran straight to the 'over-the-hill gang'," Mandopoulos said with a laugh.
He noted that Davis was being chased on Paige Avenue and ran into the chief's path. Mandopoulos was accompanied by Patrol Officer Dan Hudak and Thomas Stewart, a retired city police officer.
"Me and Stew are in our 50s and have been around forever," Mandopoulos said. He added that Hudak is the young one in the gang. Hudak is 35 and has been on the force 11 years.
What happened: Stewart is an administrative assistant for Trumbull County Sheriff Tom Altiere. Stewart said he was in his car when he heard the radio report that police were looking for a robbery suspect. Stewart said he was near the area so he went to find out if he could help.
"We were able to get the woman's money back before he had any time to count it or spend it," Mandopoulos said.
Capt. Charles Sayers of the Bazetta Township Police Department said the woman had cashed her income tax check at a Warren store around 9:30 a.m. Friday.
"Mr. Davis was in line at the store and saw the woman put the money in her purse," Sayers said. "He then got in his car and followed her to the Wal-Mart. After she pulled into a parking space, he parked his car behind her vehicle and yelled at her not to get out of the truck but to just give him her purse or else he would shoot her."
The woman complied and Davis fled, Sayers said.
Key information: A witness wrote down Davis' license plate number and gave it to police around 9:46 a.m. Bazetta police then informed Warren police of the description of the vehicle and suspect and the license plate number.
"Officer Dixon just happened to be right by Mr. Davis' house and saw him pull in," Mandopoulos said. "Officer Dixon got out of his car and Mr. Davis started running. We were in an area behind the house and Mr. Davis ran right to us."
Police recovered the money and arrested Davis at 10:03 a.m.
Sayers said the victim thanked police for getting her money returned so quickly because she needed it to pay bills and buy a few items.
"This is a good example of everyone working together," Mandopoulos said. "Our department has been hit with layoffs due to the city's financial problems, and Bazetta is a small department that is having trouble getting a levy passed. But despite our problems, we were able to work together and get this solved quickly."