Man killed trying to stop a purse thief

Witnesses offered a description of the vehicle that ran over the 71-year-old man.
BOARDMAN -- Police are investigating as a homicide the death of a 71-year-old Struthers man run over by a car Friday afternoon.
John K. Ruble Sr., of West Omar Street, died in an ambulance on the way to St. Elizabeth Health Center, Boardman Police Chief Jeffrey L. Patterson said.
Ruble was run over by the suspect's car, police said.
Ruble attempted to stop a suspect who stole his wife's purse from their car as they unloaded recycling material at 1:30 p.m., police said.
Ruble's wife, Louise, 69, who was with him at the recycling center behind the fire station at 6169 South Ave., was not injured.
Witnesses described the suspect's vehicle as a late 1980s or early 1990s blue or gray full-size GM car, possibly an Oldsmobile, Buick or Cadillac with damage to the driver's side.
They said it was headed north on South Avenue from Mathews Road.
Anyone who saw that car or has any information about it or Ruble's death is asked to call the Boardman Police Department and ask for Sgts. Nick Levinsky or Steve Riwniak.
A search of Vindicator files shows the last homicide that occurred in Boardman was the Dec. 17, 1998, death of Stephanie Moore, 6, who was drowned in a bathtub at her Baymar Drive residence.
Her mother, Mary E. Moore, admitted drowning her, and was found innocent by reason of insanity by Judge Robert G. Lisotto of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He ordered her to be committed to the Massillon Psychiatric Center.