Crime-danger rankings

Crime-danger rankings
YOUNGSTOWN -- A private research company based in Lawrence, Kan., has ranked the city the fourth most dangerous among U.S. cities with populations between 75,000 and 100,000. In the overall crime category, Youngstown was ranked 19th.
The numbers were released over the weekend by Morgan Quitno Press, which takes FBI statistics to compare crime in 342 cities and sells a variety of publications based on its findings. The study looked at murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor-vehicle theft.
Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr. said he can't argue with the company's rankings "if that's their numbers," but the perception that it's random crime is unfair. The ranking gives the false impression that it's not safe to walk the streets of the city, he said. He noted that most serious crimes involve victims and perpetrators who know each other. A lot is drug-related, and availability of guns also is a factor, he said.
Facing drug charges
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two city residents face drug-trafficking charges.
Dwayne Howell, 24, of North Truesdale Avenue, faces a felony marijuana-trafficking charge after city police stopped him outside a bar on McGuffey Road late Friday, police reports show. Officers said they found a loaded handgun and marijuana. Howell also faces two weapons charges and an open-container violation.
Melissa S. Davis, 22, of Edwards Street, faces a felony charge of trafficking in cocaine after a traffic stop on West Princeton Avenue around 12:45 a.m. Saturday. Police said they found suspected crack cocaine. She also faces charges of marijuana drug abuse and failure to appear in court on a driving-under-suspension charge.
Firefighter injured
YOUNGSTOWN -- City firefighter Michael Saddler, 25, suffered a shoulder injury at a fire that broke out in a vacant home on the city's South Side. The fire at 11 p.m. Friday at 477 Glenaven Ave. was confined to the basement and first floor, Battalion Chief Tim McGarry said. Damage is estimated at $2,500. The cause remains under investigation.
Theft from store's safe
YOUNGSTOWN -- City police are investigating the theft of $2,444 from a safe at the Dollar General Store at 3613 Market St. on the city's South Side. A manager told officers she had made change in the safe around 5 p.m. Friday and discovered the money missing around 6:10 p.m., police reports show. Another manager said the two managers and a former employee are the only people who know the safe code.
Seniors' money stolen
YOUNGSTOWN -- A thief has stolen money collected for trips and activities from the Mahoning County senior center on Fifth Avenue, city police reports show. A Park Vista employee told officers Friday that $145 was taken from a safe sometime between Monday closing time and Tuesday morning, and $340 was stolen in late November.
Church equipment theft
YOUNGSTOWN -- The New Life Church on Canfield Road on the city's West Side was robbed of $1,600 worth of stereo equipment. Burglars broke in through a window and damaged other equipment sometime between 8 p.m. Thursday and 4:30 p.m. Friday, city police reports show.
Liquor violations
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two people were arrested at the Classique bar on South Avenue on liquor-law violations. Catalina Lopez, 27, of Niles Road, Warren, faces a misdemeanor charge of selling alcohol to a minor after a 16-year-old girl was served around 11:20 p.m. Friday, police said. Carlton K. Holness, 52, of Compton Lane, Youngstown, was working as doorman at the South Side bar and faces a misdemeanor charge of permitting a minor to enter.