Innocent plea

Innocent plea
AUSTINTOWN -- A former Republican precinct committee candidate pleaded innocent today to charges of election falsification and election fraud.
James A. Roman, 30, of South Hazelwood Avenue in Youngstown remains free on $2,500 bond after the arraignment in Mahoning County Court in Austintown. His pretrial is set for 1:30 p.m. July 1.
Deputy sheriffs say Roman purposely filed documents with the county elections board claiming he lived at an Austintown address when he actually lives in Youngstown. He ran for the Austintown Precinct 11 committee seat and lost 9-8.
Vehicle break-ins
BOARDMAN -- Three Service Experts business vehicles were broken into Wednesday morning at 762 Bev Road.
The white Ford E-350s, located in the Service Experts' parking lot, contained company and employee tools totaling more than $3,800.
Car stolen in Boardman
BOARDMAN -- A resident reported a stolen vehicle from his home late Wednesday.
Kenneth N. Mitchell of Tanglewood Drive reported his 2000 silver Toyota Camry stolen.
The vehicle also contained a set of golf clubs and a green vinyl bag containing his wallet and $200 in cash. Mitchell reported that the car's doors were locked.
Abuse investigation
AUSTINTOWN -- Police are investigating a report that an employee of Gateways to Better Living group home on Idaho Road dragged a resident across a floor June 12.
Reports do not say if the resident was injured or what led to the abuse. The quality assurance manager for the facility reported the abuse to police Wednesday and said he had started an investigation.
Diesel fuel spill
AUSTINTOWN -- Firefighters spent about three hours early today cleaning up about 150 gallons of diesel fuel that had spilled from a tractor-trailer at the Pilot gas station on state Route 46.
Police woke up the driver at about 2:20 a.m. to let him know the vehicle was leaking. When the driver turned off the rig, the leak stopped. The vehicle is owned by Montgomery Bulk Express of Coleman, Fla.
Concealed weapon
CANFIELD -- A Youngstown man accused of having a knife under the seat of his car was arrested late Tuesday night and charged with carrying a concealed weapon.
The man, 24, of West LaClede Avenue, also was charged with having fictitious plates and driving under suspension. Police pulled the car over for not having visible registration at about 10:50 p.m. on Herbert Road.
The man, who was driving, was arrested when police found that his license was suspended. A gold-colored knife was later found under the driver's seat. The man told police he was taking the knife home.