Drive-by soaking

Drive-by soaking
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Super Soaker CPS 4100, promoted as a "serious water blaster" that packs 86 ounces of water, was used in a drive-by shooting of sorts Monday, witnessed by Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr.
The chief said he saw a man standing at Indianola and Glenwood avenues get squirted about 8 p.m. by someone in a passing car and identified the car and culprit to officers patrolling the South Side, reports show.
Police spoke to the 26-year-old victim, whose shirt was very wet, then found the car on West Dewey Avenue.
The passenger, Craig Ladson, 19, of Crandall Avenue, was cited on an assault charge, and the victim was told to contact the city prosecutor's office today to pursue the charge. Police confiscated the Super Soaker.
Ribbon-cutting ceremony
STRUTHERS -- An official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday at the new Struthers High School, marking the official grand opening of the building for the first full year of classes.
Classes moved into the new building near the end of last school year but this will be the first year students will start the school year in the new building. This is also the first time the school is fully accessible because demolition of the old school, which blocked the main entrance to the new school, has been completed.
Girl's rape reported
CAMPBELL -- Police are investigating the rape of a 12-year-old city girl who said she was assaulted while staying at the home of a family friend.
According to a police report, the girl recently told her mother that a 36-year-old man who was looking after her while her stepfather was hospitalized called her into his room and raped her.
The girl's mother told police that she took her daughter to a physician who confirmed that the girl may have been raped.
The rape took place during "spring break," according to a police report. The girl said she didn't tell anyone about it sooner because she was afraid.
Trial next summer
STRUTHERS -- A Boardman man will go on trial next summer on charges of reckless operation and driving under suspension after crashing his 1981 Pontiac into two parked cars and an ice machine at a city convenience store.
Police said Ifrain F. Cruz, 46, of Sheridan Road, told them he was diabetic and had not taken his insulin. The crash was about 5 p.m. Saturday. Cruz was arraigned in municipal court Monday. Trial on both charges is set for June 2, 2004.
Probe of missing tools
CAMPBELL -- Police are investigating the disappearance of tools from Iron City Wood Products, 3125 Wilson Avenue.
According to police, an employee reported a saw missing Friday afternoon. The worker told police she had seen a co-worker with the saw the day before and believes he may have taken it.
Although the co-worker denied taking the saw, he told police that he would pay for a new one.
A supervisor at the establishment told police that he had seen nail guns stolen from Iron City Wood Products a few weeks ago for sale at an area pawn shop. Police placed a hold on the nail guns pending further investigation.
Raped while buying drugs
CAMPBELL -- A 24-year-old Lowellville woman told police she was raped after going to a home at an undetermined address in the Kirwan Homes to buy drugs. Police said today that the woman reported the rape Saturday but that it happened early Friday.
Flood damage meeting
GIRARD -- A public meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday in city council chambers with a representative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to discuss flood damage assistance.
Special council session
HUBBARD -- City council will have a special meeting at 7 p.m. today in council chambers to appoint city Auditor Michael Villano as the city's representative to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.