GIRARD Woman faces charges as chief probes arrest

GIRARD -- A 21-year-old city woman was arraigned Wednesday in municipal court on several charges, including taking a knife into the city jail.
Police Chief Anthony Ross is conducting an internal investigation to determine why she wasn't properly searched before being put in the cell.
Stephanie Romeo of 337 E. Broadway St. was released Wednesday from the Trumbull County jail after posting a $2,500 bond set by municipal Judge Michael A. Bernard.
Next court appearance
She will next appear before Judge Bernard at 10 a.m. June 18 on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, disorderly conduct, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest and menacing.
According to police reports, Romeo went to the home of friend Kenneth Diernbach at 25 E. Broadway on Tuesday night. When she wouldn't leave, he summoned police.
Officers reported finding Romeo sitting on the porch holding her baby, refusing to leave, and said she used abusive language and threatened to kill them.
After her arrest, police performed only a preliminary search because a female officer was not on duty.
While in the cell, Ross said, the woman pulled the knife from the front of her pants. The knife was seen by officers through a surveillance camera in the cell and they retrieved it.
Ross said a female officer from another department is normally called to search female prisoners. A metal detector also is available but wasn't used.
In this case, Romeo was patted down by officers with closed hands.
The baby has been placed in foster care.