Weapons charges

Weapons charges
BOARDMAN -- A 23-year-old Youngstown man's attempt to drive away without paying for $5 worth of gasoline has resulted in charges of theft, improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and illegal possession of a weapon, police said. Officers, while stationed near the Shell gas station on East Western Reserve Road Sunday afternoon, saw Daniel Lee Shank of Helena Avenue drive off without paying for the gas and head north on South Avenue, they said. After a short pursuit, they pulled Shank over on Bev Road and found a gun and 25 shotgun shells in his vehicle.
Store workers robbed
HUBBARD -- City police are seeking a gunman who escaped with cash after robbing two employees of the Dollar General store on West Liberty Street as they were leaving the store to make a night deposit. The workers said they had begun to walk to nearby Cortland Bank about 9:30 p.m. Saturday when a car pulled up. A man wearing a ski mask pointed a handgun and ordered the employees to the ground. The robber drove away after taking the deposit bag containing the day's receipts. Police found the car a short time later abandoned on Jacobs Road in Youngstown. It had been reported stolen from Austintown, investigators said.
Robbery attempt
BOARDMAN -- Police continue to search for a suspect involved in a robbery outside Charter One Bank, Boardman-Poland Road. An Austintown woman told police that while she was making a deposit at the bank's drive-through window at 8:05 p.m. Friday, a man approached her car window, pointed a gun and demanded money. When she said she had deposited the money, the man became angry, fired a shot in the air and fled. The woman said she heard two more shots fired as the man ran from the scene. She was not injured.
Menacing charge
COITSVILLE -- Chad E. Smith, 19 of McGuffey Road, Lowellville, will be arraigned Tuesday in Campbell Municipal Court on charges of domestic violence, illegal possession of a weapon and aggravated menacing. Coitsville police arrested Smith on Friday after being told that he pulled a gun on his mother's boyfriend during an argument. Police learned that Smith is on probation for an arson conviction and is prohibited from having a gun.
Cockatoo stolen
NILES -- Pets Supplies Plus, Youngstown-Warren Road, reported to police that two men came into the store and took an expensive bird without paying Friday evening. The bird was described as a 3-month-old sulfur crested cockatoo valued at $1,600. The suspects are described as two white males, one about 40 years old. Police reports didn't indicate how the men removed the bird.
Teen still critical
NEW CASTLE -- A New Springfield, Ohio, teen remains in critical condition in the trauma intensive care unit at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, after a car accident that killed two of his friends. Authorities said Jason West, 15, was the back-seat passenger when the car in which he was riding became airborne at the crest of a hill on State Line Road about one mile south of Columbia Road, North Beaver Township, Lawrence County. Police said the car slid sideways and struck three trees before landing on its roof at about 6:40 a.m. Saturday. The driver, Russell L. Lyda, 18, of Petersburg and Jason E. Alexander, 16, of New Middletown died at the scene, police said.
Counterfeit bill
BOARDMAN -- An employee of Toys "R" Us, Boardman-Poland Road, told police that he discovered a counterfeit $10 bill Friday. Police said the bill was likely accepted Thursday. No arrests have been made.