LOWELLVILLE Officials resolve problems over crash

One councilman called the controversy 'politically motivated.'
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LOWELLVILLE -- Village Police Chief William H. Vance and Councilman James Iudiciani Sr. say the issues between them were "hashed out as far as an apology goes" and "pretty much resolved" during a meeting between the two Wednesday afternoon.
But there remains some disagreement over what happened during the investigation of a crash Oct. 21 involving a vehicle driven by Iudiciani's girlfriend, Barbara A. Coloutes.
She drove into a porch on West Wood Street while turning around in a neighbor's driveway, Iudiciani said.
Coloutes was charged by police with failure to control and driving under the influence of alcohol.
According to the police report, there were no injuries, minimal damage to the car and some damage to the porch at the residence.
In a written statement, Iudiciani said that the controversy over the crash was "politically motivated."
Iudiciani is running for mayor against another councilman, Keith McCaughtry, in Tuesday's general election.
Accusations
The crash led to accusations by Vance, in a memo to village council, that Iudiciani tried to interfere with police Capt. Michael Shane in his investigation of the accident by asking Shane to charge Coloutes only with failure to maintain control. Vance also said Iudiciani and Coloutes, a part-time village employee, were verbally abusive to himself and Shane.
Iudiciani acknowledged that he asked Shane to charge Coloutes only with failure to maintain control because she was the only person involved and was not injured, and the damage to the porch would be covered by insurance.
Coloutes pleaded innocent to failure to control and DUI at her arraignment Oct. 22 in Struthers Municipal Court. Her pretrial is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2004, and the trial for July 11, 2004.
Vance's memo to council resulted in a special meeting being called tonight to "discuss Vance's letter." However, on Wednesday, the council meeting was canceled.
The crash occurred at 10:13 p.m. at 143 W. Wood St., the Frohman residence. Iudiciani lives at 119 W. Wood St. The crash was reported to Lowellville police through the Mahoning County 911 Center.
In police report
In his report, Shane said Coloutes appeared to be intoxicated, but that she refused to take field-sobriety tests. She was transported to the Poland Police Department, where she refused to take a breath test and was placed under administrative license suspension. Vance said he did not plan to press the issue by charging Iudiciani with obstruction. But, at the same time he wrote his memo and wanted a council meeting "to get the issues straightened out."
He said he felt he "deserved some respect" as police chief and until Wednesday afternoon had not received an apology from Iudiciani.
For his part, Iudiciani said he did not interfere with Shane as evidenced by the charges filed against Coloutes.
"I have no other comment at this time," Iudiciani said.
alcorn@vindy.com