Teens refuse to stop, lead police on chase

Teens refuse to stop, lead police on chase
SALEM -- Three teens face criminal charges after a vehicle chase and crash. Police said they began pursuing a sport utility vehicle about 3:30 a.m. Sunday after seeing it fail to stop at an intersection. The vehicle's driver refused to halt when signaled by police to do so.
Police chased the vehicle on several city streets before it crashed into a garage in an unnamed alley near the 900 block of South Union Avenue.
The 17-year-old male driver of Prospect Street is charged in Columbiana County Juvenile Court with reckless operation, driving with a suspended license and driving under the influence, police said. His male passengers, one 18, the other 17, are charged with underage consumption. The 17-year-old also is charged with violating curfew.
The 18-year-old, Bradley Weber of Kensington, was to appear today in Columbiana County Municipal Court in Salem.
The driver was unhurt. His passengers were taken to Salem Community Hospital, where Weber was treated, and the 17-year-old remained in stable condition this morning.
Festival committee
LEETONIA -- The Leetonia Artisans Festival committee will meet at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at Wick Park. There is space available for craft and antique vendors and antique tractor displays for the festival, which will . be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 15. Interested craft vendors may call Jennifer Valentine at (330) 427-0808. Antique vendors or those interested in displaying antique tractors may call Laura Nappi at (330) 427-0435
Drive-by shooting
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police are searching for a 19-year-old man suspected in a drive-by shooting on Elmwood Street in Union Township. Pennsylvania State Police said a 20-year-old man was standing on his front porch at 4 p.m. Saturday when the suspect drove by and fired several shots. They said the 20-year-old man was hit in the upper chest and suffered superficial wounds. He was treated at St. Francis Hospital. The men apparently had an argument just before the shooting, police said.
New Castle arson
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Firefighters are investigating an early morning arson at a vacant Hamilton Street home. Fire Chief James Donston said the blaze was set at 1:55 a.m. on the rear porch of 15081/2 Hamilton Street and extended to 1508 Hamilton St. It is owned by Violet Probst.
Fire destroys farmhouse
FREDONIA, Pa. -- A fire of undetermined origin destroyed a two-story frame farmhouse at 256 Pew Road in Delaware Township. Fredonia Fire Chief George Benninghoff said the Mercer County 911 Center received several calls around 10:40 p.m. Friday reporting the blaze and the structure was ablaze when fire crews reached the scene. A cause has not been determined, he said. No damage estimate was available.
The house is owned by Paula and Randy Hale of Mercer, who stayed at the farmhouse on weekends. No one was there when the fire broke out, he said. Crews from Transfer, Mercer and Jefferson Township assisted at the scene.
Suspected drug lab
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police are investigating a suspected methamphetamine lab on Phillips Street. They were called to the home at 1:27 a.m. Saturday for a domestic dispute when they learned that the garage was being used for suspected drug activity. Police said they found chemicals and equipment believed to be used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine, an illegal synthetic stimulant. The narcotics bureau of the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, Lawrence County Emergency Management and New Castle Fire Department were called to secure the scene. Police said they are waiting for laboratory results on the chemicals before charges are filed.
Breaking and entering
YOUNGSTOWN -- Terry's Furniture on Market Street wasn't open at 3:45 a.m. today when Lashonda D. Shavers decided to shop there for her new apartment, police said.
Officers say the 24-year-old Bissell Avenue woman was climbing out of a broken window after dropping a fake plant to the ground. Shavers told police that two people who ran had been stashing stuff behind the store at 720 Market.
Police found six lamps and a mirror behind the store and collected the items as evidence of the break-in. Shavers was arrested on a charge of breaking and entering.