Burglary suspects

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 arrested them. Police said White gave them a fictitious name and then a crack pipe was found on him.
Sex assault reported
WARREN -- A 19-year-old woman told police she was groped by a stranger as she entered her apartment complex on Berkshire Drive. The man tried to pull her toward him and she screamed and ran, waking up several other tenants at about 12:35 a.m. today, she told police. Her assailant fled the building. Police searched the area but could not find the man.
Molestation reported
WARREN -- A distraught father told police that his 7-year-old daughter was sexually molested at a basketball court on Cranberry Lane N.E. Thursday morning. Police are investigating.
Election petitions certified
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Board of Elections today certified nominating petitions for independent candidates running for seats in Youngstown, Struthers and Poland during the November general election. Also, petitions were certified for nonpartisan candidates running in November for elected positions in Sebring and Campbell.
2 face drug charges
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.
Free baby-sitting course
WARREN -- The Trumbull County Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering a free baby-sitting course for children ages 11 to 15.
The course will be from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 21 and July 22 at the Brookfield United Methodist Church, 6951 Grove St. Participants will learn how to be a safe and responsible baby-sitter, how to recognize and respond to emergencies, age-appropriate games and how to care for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school-aged children.
Registration deadline is July 17 and reservations may be made by calling the Red Cross office at (330) 392-2551. The course is free because of a donation from the LPGA/Mahoning Valley Sports Charities.
New tax commissioner
LOWELLVILLE -- Jerry Colaneri was appointed tax commissioner for a one year-term Wednesday at the village council meeting. Before the decision, the salary for tax commissioner was raised from $6,200 to $7,100. Clerk treasurer Carol Flora made the appointment.
Out past curfew
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two teenage boys seen walking on Rush Boulevard at 12:25 a.m. today were stopped by police and issued citations charging them with curfew violation. The city's curfew for those under 18 is 11 p.m. The boys, 14 and 16, were taken home and turned over to their parents.
Paving projects approved
STRUTHERS -- City council approved the paving of First Street from Wood Street to Liberty Street for $4,000. High Street will be paved for $3,400. Both projects will be done by Butch & amp; McCree Co. of Hillsville, Pa. Additional paving at Lowellville Park will be done by Penn Ohio Sealing Co. of Youngstown for $4,900.