Suit alleges job bias

Suit alleges job bias
YOUNGSTOWN -- A detective sergeant has filed a civil complaint in federal court against Youngstown, its mayor, police chief and former police chief alleging that he was denied transfer to the detective division, a separate unit that handles homicides, felonious assaults, burglaries and so forth, because he serves in the Army Reserve. Detective Sgt. Donald P. Scott's complaint asks for more than $1 million in compensatory damages, unspecified punitive damages, immediate assignment to the detective division with back pay and attorney's fees. The complaint alleges that Scott has been subjected to "outrageous discrimination and retaliation" as a result of his Reserve military obligations. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Peter C. Economus.
Bond set in murder
YOUNGSTOWN -- Bond has been set at $500,000 cash or surety for Lynn M. Bowden, 23, of Ravine Road, who is charged with murder in the weekend shooting death of Aundre Phillips, 17, of Duncan Lane. Phillips was shot in the stomach and above his right eye around 2:15 a.m. Sunday outside Bowden's home. Bowden was arraigned Tuesday in municipal court by Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly. He will be back in Judge Kobly's court Sept. 18 for a preliminary hearing unless the case is directly presented to a Mahoning County grand jury.
Several charges
YOUNGSTOWN -- A routine traffic stop Tuesday on the East Side resulted in the arrest of Javier Flores, 27, of South Pearl Street, who was wanted on municipal court warrants that had been issued in 1999. Flores' new charge is driving under suspension. He is also accused of failing to appear for arraignment on a loud-music charge in August 1999 and failure to pay fines in September 1999 for convictions for violations of seat belt, loud music and traffic control device laws, according to the arrest report.
Treated for head injury
AUSTINTOWN -- A North Jackson woman told police here Tuesday that another woman beat her in the head with a blunt object in a Canfield Road driveway. Police think the object may have been a wrench.
The North Jackson woman, 29, was treated at Beeghly Medical Center for cuts to her head. The North Jackson woman told police that she went to a Canfield Road home around 11:30 p.m. to pick up her boyfriend. Reports state that the woman who lives at the home pulled the North Jackson woman out of a car and beat her.
The Canfield Road woman, 30, later told police that she was the victim in the situation. She said she'd call detectives today to give her version of the beating.
Police searched the Canfield Road home but could not find the object that was said to have been used in the beating.
Rat or black kitten?
YOUNGSTOWN -- Joseph Averett, 66, of West Warren Avenue was arrested Tuesday night after witnesses told police that he fired a shotgun from his porch. Averett, when questioned by police, said he thought he saw a large rat walking down the street and fired. Police found a dead black kitten in the street in front of Averett's house. The officers released Averett on a summons. He is accused of discharging a firearm within the city limits. The shotgun and spent casings were seized as evidence.