YOUNGSTOWN South Side drug raids net five arrests

Police collected photos of gang members, cash, drugs and weapons.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- When vice squad cops rolled Mark Jones over after handcuffing him, they found near his waist a 9 mm pistol equipped with a laser sight and 36-round magazine, according to police reports.
The firepower more than doubles what police officers have available with their 9 mm Sig Sauers, which have a 15-round magazine.
The vice squad used search warrants Thursday to enter 323 Willis Ave. and 476 Idora Ave., both on the South Side.
Boy taken: Arrested at the Willis residence was a 15-year-old Tod Lane boy wearing a bulletproof vest and who had an assault rifle and crack cocaine nearby, according to Patrolman Jerry Slattery. The boy was taken to the juvenile justice center.
Jones, 22, of Stewart Avenue, was also arrested at the Willis house and charged with possession of a dangerous ordnance. Aside from the 9 mm pistol, Patrolman Stephen Price found $239 when he turned Jones over.
At arraignment Friday in municipal court, Magistrate Anthony Sertick set Jones' bond at $3,000 and allowed 10 percent of it to be paid. Jones is to be back in court Nov. 19 for a preliminary hearing.
Lt. William Powell, vice squad commander, said Friday that a mean and aggressive pit bull named Psycho at the Willis residence had to be placed in a crate so that officers could search the place. Powell said the dog, which police thought might break through the mesh crate, had to be removed by the dog warden.
Aside from several bags of crack cocaine and photos of "Cash Money Cousins" gang members, police said they seized ammunition, including magazines for 9 mm handguns, .45-caliber and 12-gauge shotgun shells. They also collected three 9 mm handguns.
Three arrests: At the Idora drug raid, police arrested three people -- Tyrone Lindsey, Kiki Graham and Arthur Thomas. Patrolman Paul Brown said police had to force their way into the house with a battering ram.
Graham, 26, who lives at the Idora residence, was charged with permitting drug abuse and with drug-abuse marijuana. When her children arrived home from school during the raid, she sent them to a neighbor's.
The vice squad officers said they found crack cocaine in a bedroom and the attic crawl space. Patrolman Brian Simmons noted in his report that the house was in terrible condition and had no running water.
Sertick set Graham's bond at $3,000 cash or surety and set a pretrial hearing for Nov. 13.
Thomas, 23, of East Auburndale Avenue was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a small scale. He pleaded guilty at arraignment Friday and the magistrate set sentencing for Nov. 15.
Crack cocaine: Police first saw Lindsey, 18, of Fairmont Avenue in an upstairs window at the Idora home, then found him hiding in the attic. The officers said they seized six bags of crack cocaine packaged for sale in the bedroom where Lindsey had first been spotted.
Lindsey was charged with aggravated trafficking in crack. The magistrate set bond at $10,000 cash or surety and set a preliminary hearing for Nov. 13.
meade@vindy.com