AUSTINTOWN Burglary suspect charged with assault on policeman

AUSTINTOWN -- Police have charged a 39-year-old Youngstown man with first-degree felony assault on a police officer after his arrest on accusations that he struck an officer with a bag full of rolled change.
The assault took place after a robbery Monday at the Sav-a-Step store at 4226 Mahoning Ave., police said.
The Violent Crimes Task Force arrested Kevin Queener of Bryant Street about 2:20 p.m. Tuesday at his and his mother's home, township police said.
He also faces a fifth-degree felony charge of breaking and entering of a business.
Complicity suspect
Michael Pierce, 38, of Lincoln Park Drive, Youngstown, was arrested Monday and has been charged with complicity to breaking and entering, receiving stolen property and failure to comply.
Police were called to the store about 1:15 a.m. Monday and found the store's front window broken and cash register missing.
Based on witness information, police tracked down a car near Four Mile Run Road and chased it to Glen Oaks Drive in Youngstown, where the driver, Pierce, and the passenger, Queener, got out and ran. Police chased both men on foot and found Pierce under a pine tree.
Officer Gregory Brinsko said Queener hit him, knocked him to the ground and fled. Paramedics treated Brinsko for cuts and bruises to his head.