Man reports break-in

Man reports break-in
AUSTINTOWN -- A Cumberland Drive man told police three people broke through his back door Thursday night, pushed him to the ground, fought with him and ransacked his house.
It is the third time he has reported a break-in at his house since June 25. The man said that the three burglars broke through the glass in his back door at about 10:15 p.m.
They also pushed through boards that covered the glass where it had been smashed in an earlier break-in. The man told police he was pushed to the floor, and that he fought with the burglars until he was too tired to move.
The burglars then ransacked the house. Neighbors said they saw a white car in the man's driveway during the break-in. Police are investigating.
Election petitions certified
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County Board of Elections certified nominating petitions for independent candidates running for seats in Youngstown, Struthers and Poland during the November general election.
Also, petitions were certified today for nonpartisan candidates running in November for elected positions in Sebring and Campbell.
Drug charges against 2
YOUNGSTOWN -- Loud music coming from Benjamin Diaz's Cadillac at 2:40 a.m. today caught the attention of police, who said they found suspected marijuana and Ecstasy pills.
The officers, who were working a Gun Reduction Interdiction Project detail, said they stopped Diaz, 22, on Oak Street and smelled marijuana.
Bags of suspected marijuana were found in Diaz's pants and nine Ecstasy pills in the car's console, reports show. Diaz, of Helena Avenue, faces charges of possession of marijuana, possession of a dangerous drug, loud music and a cracked windshield.
At 10:20 p.m. Thursday, GRIP officers arrested Mark Smith, 21, of North Fruit Street, at the Westlake Terrace housing project.
He faces charges of aggravated trafficking in marijuana and possession of crack cocaine. Police said they found 10 packaged-for-sale bags of suspected marijuana and a rock of suspected crack cocaine where Smith had been sitting.
Burglary suspects
LIBERTY -- Two Youngstown men face burglary charges after being caught inside an apartment Thursday night.
Being held in the Trumbull County Jail on burglary charges are James E. Thomas, 42, of Crandall Avenue and Reginald D. White, 33, of Tyrell Street.
White is also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and falsification. He has an outstanding warrant charging him with complicity to theft.
Police received a call about 10 p.m. that a man had crawled through a window of an apartment at Green Acres Apartments and opened the door for a second man. Police arrived and made the arrests.
White gave police a fictitious name and then a crack pipe was found on him, the report stated.
Cops in Shops
YOUNGSTOWN -- Signs that read "Cops in Shop, officer may be posing as an employee" at convenience stores are proving to be a great deterrent for those not old enough to buy alcohol, said Lt. Rod Foley, coordinator of the program for city police.
A three-month evaluation, April through June, shows that four citations were issued and eight arrests made, Foley said.
Officers who randomly work Cops in Shops at more than 45 convenience stores reported seeing more than 100 underage prospective alcohol buyers walk away after reading the signs, he said.
Part-time cops hired
LOWELLVILLE -- With approval of council, Mayor Joseph Rossi hired two part-time officers for the police department.
Michael J. Kawa is a full-time officer in Youngstown, and Andrew W. Rauzan is a full-time officer in Campbell.
They join six other part-time officers, three full-time officers and two reserve officers in Lowellville.
The part-time officers will be paid $9 an hour.