Death of 15-year-old

Death of 15-year-old
YOUNGSTOWN -- Police said today that foul play is not suspected in the death of a 15-year-old girl in her South Truesdale Avenue home early Monday. Cheryl Houser had been ill for at least two weeks and had spent time in the hospital, police officials said.
The girl's body had been removed by the coroner after her grandmother found her unresponsive and not breathing around 5 a.m. The coroner's ruling is pending.
Gun pointed at girl
YOUNGSTOWN -- Police charged a 13-year-old Hillman Middle School pupil Monday with aggravated menacing after a gun was pointed at the head of a schoolmate as they walked home from school.
The 12-year-old victim said the suspect and another boy were following her around 2:30 p.m. Friday, when one boy knocked her down with his book bag and ordered the other one to "finish her off."
The 13-year-old put the handgun to the girl's head, pulled the trigger and said, "You're lucky this thing's empty" before fleeing. The boy told police it was a pellet gun.
Stabbing charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- Police charged a 51-year-old Youngstown man with felonious assault in a stabbing early today at the Central Inn on Youngstown-Hubbard Road, police reports show. A 28-year-old man said he tried to break up a fight between the suspect and another man when he was stabbed in the throat near a jugular vein, suffering a one-inch cut.
DUI charge after wreck
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 56-year-old city man faces charges of driving under the influence after his car rear-ended a car with three occupants early Sunday, according to police reports. The occupants said they were stopped at a traffic signal on Market Street at Delason Avenue when the vehicle was struck from behind. The driver who was charged had a blood alcohol count of .289, nearly three times the legal limit for driving, police reports show. No injuries were reported.
Drug-related charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- Deputy sheriffs charged a 36-year-old Canfield man with drug paraphernalia at the WRTA bus station on Federal Street after finding a glass pipe commonly used to smoke crack cocaine in his pants pocket, police reports show. The man had been arrested on an open container charge around 4:45 p.m. Friday after officers saw him drinking beer as he walked in the parking lot of the station. The pipe was found during a search after the arrest. Sheriff's officials said residue in the pipe would be tested for the presence of cocaine.
Drug paraphernalia
YOUNGSTOWN -- City police charged a 44-year-old Youngstown woman with drug paraphernalia after finding a crack pipe and other crack cocaine supplies in her jacket and purse, police reports show. The woman had been arrested for loitering to engage in prostitution after police saw her and another woman flagging down cars early Sunday at the corner of Oak Hill and Myrtle avenues. The woman had recently been released from jail after serving 30 days for loitering to engage in prostitution, reports show. Also arrested was the other 44-year-old Youngstown woman, on charges of loitering to engage in prostitution and obstruction of justice after she told police she was from Texas. They discovered she had been arrested several times and had nine aliases, seven social security numbers and eight birth dates.
Car accident
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Youngstown man's car plunged over a 50-foot embankment after it was hit from behind on U.S. Route 422. Pennsylvania State Police said George L. Fintor, 57, complained of chest pain after his car went over a guardrail and down the embankment and landed on its roof. He was eastbound at noon Monday when William J. Rentler, 46, of Pittsburgh crashed into the back of his car. Medevac Ambulance and the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Department responded to the crash.
Sharpton to speak
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- The Rev. Al Sharpton will discuss "Social Justice Today" when he visits Slippery Rock University at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Swope Recital Hall. The Rev. Mr. Sharpton is known nationwide for activism.