Drug investigation

Drug investigation
POLAND -- Two more Poland Seminary High School students have been arrested in an ongoing drug investigation.
Township Police Chief Carl Massullo said the boys, both 16-year-old sophomores, were arrested early today. One 16-year-old faces a charge of drug abuse and the other a charge of drug trafficking.
A 17-year-old student was arrested Wednesday morning when he arrived at a Niles substance abuse treatment center. He is charged with aggravated trafficking.
Two prescription drugs are involved: Xanax, commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, and OxyContin, a morphine-base painkiller often prescribed for cancer patients.
More arrests are expected, Massullo said.
Man steals lizards
NILES -- A pet store on Youngstown-Warren Road reported the theft of two bearded dragon lizards.
An employee at Pet Supply Plus told police a man came in at 4:20 p.m. Thursday, walked around the store for about 10 minutes, then grabbed the two reptiles and drove off in an older model navy blue Chevy Camaro.
The lizards sell for $84.95 each.
Purse snatched
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Champaign, Ill., woman visiting her sick father Thursday night was pushed to the ground and had her purse snatched outside the Midlothian Boulevard Burger King.
Witnesses said the suspect -- a white man in his 20s with a mustache that droops below his mouth -- asked for water in the restaurant before the 9:15 p.m. attack.
The surveillance video recorded his time in the place.
The 65-year-old victim had $80, credit cards and a $500 traveler's check in her purse.
Dog tracks down gun
YOUNGSTOWN -- Duane Harris of Norwood Avenue had a gun when he broke free from police Thursday night on Wick Avenue, but not when they caught him after a foot chase.
Rico, a police dog, followed the scent from where officers had first confronted Harris and Christopher Chew about 9 p.m. in the parking lot of Atlantic Food Mart, where they were seen drinking cognac in a car, and found the gun in thick brush.
Harris, 23, was charged with consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle, failure to comply with a police officer and carrying a concealed weapon.
Chew, 22, of West Boston Avenue was charged with consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle and drug abuse-cocaine.
Deputies at the jail said they found suspected crack in Chew's pants pocket.
Money repaid to Mecca
MECCA -- Township money taken by the wife of the former township clerk has been repaid.
Prosecutors said Lynda Chronister has returned $37,415 and a Toledo bonding company paid the township $10,000.
The $47,415 is the amount Chronister is accused of taking plus what it cost the township to pay for a special audit, prosecutors said.
Chronister pleaded guilty in August to 10 forgery counts and is serving a six-month sentence in an alternative sentencing program.
Her husband, Rand, pleaded guilty in September to a misdemeanor charge of dereliction of duty. He is scheduled to serve 30 days in jail beginning June 4.
Warren woman losesage-discrimination suit
WARREN -- A jury has found that Valley Counseling Services did not discriminate against a woman because of her age. The jury reached the decision after deliberating three hours Wednesday.
JoAnne Carwithen, 55, of Hewitt-Gifford Road S.W., Warren, was asking for damages because she believed she was fired because of her age.
The jury, however, rejected her claim. According to court documents filed by Carwithen's lawyer, Carwithen was discharged from her employment during her six-month probationary term.
Evangelical leader
CANFIELD -- The Rev. James J. Counihan will speak at Old North Church at 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday. The Napa Valley, Calif., minister is past president of the American Evangelical Association.