Patrolman fired upon

Patrolman fired upon
YOUNGSTOWN -- Shots were fired at Patrolman Jason E. Simon early today when he responded to a burglary-prowler report in the 300 block of School Street. Simon was not injured. Melvin Fernandez Cruz, 19, no address given, was arrested about 12:45 a.m. today on charges of attempted murder and possession of criminal tools. Two other suspects escaped. Shots were fired when Simon chased Cruz, who was wearing a protective military flak jacket, to an open field near John Street, reports show. A search of the area turned up a loaded 9mm handgun. Cruz, who told police he does not speak English, was read his Miranda rights in Spanish.
Salem man pleads
YOUNGSTOWN -- Joshua Dale Baird, 27, of Salem-Unity Road, Salem, pleaded innocent to a charge of rape at his arraignment Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Judge Jack Durkin set bond at $50,000. Baird is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a 2-year-old Boardman girl and faces life in prison if he is convicted. He had been free on a $50,000 bond and awaiting trial on charges of rape and gross sexual imposition in Columbiana County, where he's accused of molesting a 4-year-old relative.
Widow's theft charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- Michelle L. Cannell, whose husband was killed when he tried to retrieve the wedding ring she had traded for drugs, was arrested Monday afternoon at the West Side Sparkle Market on Mahoning Avenue after a cashier saw her hide a carton of cigarettes inside her coat. Cannell, 31, of Quentin Drive, told police that she tried to steal the cigarettes, worth $36, because she had no money and wanted to trade them for drugs. Cannell was issued a theft citation. Her husband, John Cannell, was shot to death Nov. 25 on West Woodland Avenue when he confronted a man over the wedding ring.
Cashiers arrested
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two cashiers at the IGA grocery store on McCartney Road were arrested Monday night after the manager said he witnessed a theft at a register. Carol Crawford, 41, of Orrin Avenue faces a theft charge, and Marie I. Mateo, 18, of Coitsville Road faces a complicity to theft charge. The manager told police that he saw Mateo ring up only Crawford's milk, ice tea and Hershey's syrup but not 12 bags of assorted candy, worth about $40. The candy had been concealed under another register earlier in the day, then collected when Crawford went through Mateo's line, the manager told police.
Man shot in his bed
YOUNGSTOWN -- Police are investigating a shooting Monday morning that injured a city man asleep in his bed. Two rounds were fired through a bedroom window at an East Avondale Avenue home, hitting Andre Ortiz, 23, in the upper right arm and shoulder around 9:30 a.m. as he slept in a downstairs bedroom in his home. There was a police hold on him at St. Elizabeth Health Center, but he left before a detective arrived. Ortiz is wanted on felony warrants issued in New York City. The victim's aunt told police her nephew had been involved in a fight with another man on the city's East Side the night before. The victim's car was also burned in front of his home around 3:15 a.m. Monday.
A lucky lottery winner
YOUNGSTOWN -- Edward G. Pompura of Youngstown scratched the Ohio Lottery $2 game ticket "New Year's Cash" and won $20,003. Pompura filed his claim Monday. After taxes, he will receive $13,902. He bought the winning ticket at True North gas station, 3670 S. Meridian Road in Austintown. More than $1 million in prizes remains to be won.
Strip club resolution
AUSTINTOWN -- Township trustees have postponed a decision to rescind the township's strip club resolution and approve a new, nearly identical resolution. Trustee Bo Pritchard said the Mahoning County prosecutor's office wanted more time to work on the new resolution. Trustees had been expected to rescind one resolution and approve another Monday night. The resolution, approved unanimously Sept. 23, requires strip club owners, strippers, and other club employees to get a license to work in the township. The prosecutor's office had expressed concern that trustees acted improperly by holding closed-door meetings to discuss the resolution with a consultant.
OxyContin missing
BERLIN CENTER -- A bottle with 40 OxyContin pills has been reported missing from a house in the 14000 block of Ellsworth Road. The prescription painkillers, often used by cancer patients, have a high resale value on the street to drug abusers. The Mahoning County Sheriff's Department is investigating.