Fire in motel room in Austintown

Fire in motel roomin Austintown
AUSTINTOWN -- Fire caused $6,000 in damage to a room at Motel 6 on Seventy-six Drive on Thursday. There were no injuries. Reports do not state if the room was occupied. Firefighters were called to the motel about 6 p.m. and had the fire under control in five minutes. The fire was caused by an electrical short in a fan. Firefighters found that the smoke detector in the room did not have any batteries.
Wanted on warrant
AUSTINTOWN -- Police arrested a Lowellville man early today who was wanted on a warrant in Dallas County, Texas, accusing him of fondling a child. Police found Norman Carter, 27, of Oak Street Extension, sitting in a car parked in front of a fire hydrant in the parking lot of The Mill club on South Raccoon Road around 2:30 a.m. Police checked the car's registration and learned that Carter, who owned the car, was wanted on the warrant. Police reports do not give any information about the crime that led courts to issue the warrant.
Police probe report
AUSTINTOWN -- Police are investigating a report that someone in the Ukraine using the Internet auction site eBay stole $1,370 from a North Four Mile Run Road woman. The woman, 20, sent Viktor Gaydaj the money Dec. 10 for a computer on the site. The money was picked up in Kiev. The woman has yet to receive the computer. She later learned that the eBay account was fictitious.
Officer free on bond
YOUNGSTOWN -- Detective Sgt. James Pasquale, charged with criminal trespass and assault of a car dealership finance manager in Warren, is free on $2,500 personal bond and scheduled for a pretrial Jan. 27 in Warren Municipal Court. Lt. Robin Lees, Youngstown Police Department public information officer, said Pasquale was off duty Dec. 28 when he had a confrontation with Tino Merlo at Toyota Volvo Jaguar of Warren, 3810 Youngstown Road S.E. Pasquale wanted back his $100 down payment but was told he couldn't get it until Monday, Lees said. Merlo pushed Pasquale up steps, where he was grabbed by an employee of the dealership, Lees said. Merlo suffered facial cuts, Lees said. Pasquale, also injured in the scuffle, remains on the job. He referred questions to Warren attorney Sarah T. Kovoor. She could not be reached.
Trial request denied
YOUNGSTOWN -- Christopher Scott's request for a new trial on murder charges has been denied by Judge Robert Lisotto of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Scott, 25, was convicted in November of aggravated murder in the July 1999 death of 44-year-old Olivia Hubbert. His attorney, Paul Conn, filed the request for a new trial, citing several mistakes he believes were made during the trial. Conn said he's already filed an appeal with the 7th District Court of Appeals.
Car runs into wallin Youngstown
YOUNGSTOWN -- A man drove his car into a wall around a stairway to the city hall basement, causing the wall to collapse Thursday afternoon, police said. Edward A. Condo-Vounesuis, 82, who lives in Amedia Plaza, 131 W. Boardman St., pulled his car from a parking place on Phelps Street at 2:25 p.m. His car went over the curb, onto the sidewalk and into the wall at 10 mph, police said. He was charged with failure to control his vehicle. The stairway leads to the police department's juvenile bureau. There were no injuries.
Phony police stops
CORTLAND -- Police Chief Gary Mink is warning motorists in the city to be careful if someone in what appears to be an unmarked police car attempts to stop them. Mink said his department has received two reports of a man stopping motorists. Mink recommends keeping doors locked and opening windows only enough to communicate with the officer during a stop if motorists think the police officer may be phony. If they have doubts, they should also ask for official identification with a photograph, and they can call 911 if they have a cell phone, Mink said.
Liberty trustee meeting
LIBERTY -- Township trustees will combine their organizational and regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in the township administration building.
Relay for Life benefit
NILES -- The Niles Relay for Life board will sponsor a benefit concert featuring entertainment from Big Daddy Burl. Admission to the Jan. 18 event at Creekside Golf Dome on U.S. Route 422 in Girard is $5. Music begins at 10 p.m. Call Jodi Riedel at (330) 652-5656 or the American Cancer Society office at (330) 841-4970.