YOUNGSTOWN Crikey! Drug hunt turns up alligator

Youngstown police had search warrants for four city residences.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Vice squad cops found more than drugs at 27 N. Hine St. -- a 5-foot alligator in a large glass tank.
The discovery was made Tuesday during a raid at the East Side home.
The resident, Preston Cunningham, 28, identified himself to police as the owner of the alligator. He was issued a court summons that charges him with keeping and maintaining wild animals.
Police said they would contact Dave Nelson, Animal Charity humane investigator, to take the alligator.
The raid also resulted in the arrest of another resident of the Hine Street house. Police said they saw 24-year-old Michael Ware toss a plastic bag and run out the back door.
Ware was caught and arrested on charges of drug abuse of cocaine and drug abuse of Valium. Police said the bag contained crack and they found a Valium pill in Ware's pants pocket.
Other raids
The vice squad also used search warrants Tuesday to enter 326 S. Forest Ave. and 751 Fairgreen Ave.
Antonio Torres, 31, of South Forest was arrested on charges of drug abuse of heroin and possession of drug-abuse paraphernalia. Police said they found heroin and a coffee grinder with heroin residue.
Dennis E. Clark, 48, of Fairgreen was arrested on a charge of trafficking in marijuana. Police said they found 10 bags of marijuana packaged for individual sales.
All four men were expected to be arraigned today in municipal court.