Suit against city dropped

Suit against city dropped
YOUNGSTOWN -- A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against the city by four residents who alleged misconduct, dereliction of duty, negligence, malfeasance and fraud.
The suit says the city officials have failed to follow the city charter, state law and the U.S. Constitution on numerous topics.
Judge Peter C. Economus of U.S. District Court said in his ruling that because the complaint alleges violations of state law, it should have been filed in common pleas court, not federal court.
Margaret Lorenzi, Charles Kershaw, Frank Humphries and John Thomas, all of Youngstown, filed the suit Oct. 14. The suit named the mayor, finance and law directors, and all seven city councilmen.
The suit sought an injunction to prohibit the city officials from signing contracts and ordering investigations of contracts already signed, plus unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Suspended sentence
YOUNGSTOWN -- John J. Bialik, 26, of Mathews Road, Boardman, received a 30-day suspended jail sentence when he appeared in municipal court last week after pleading no contest in August to disorderly conduct, amended from falsification.
Bialik had been charged with faking his jail work-release papers a year ago when he was incarcerated after being convicted of driving under the influence and driving under suspension.
Municipal Judge Robert P. Milich also fined Bialik $100 and placed him on one year's probation.
School bus accident
BOARDMAN -- A Boardman school bus was involved in a crash with a 1993 Mercury Cougar driven by a 88-year-old Boardman man. Police said the accident occurred at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday on Indianola Road, near Euclid Boulevard.
The bus was driven by Howard D. Moff, 69, of New Buffalo Road in Canfield, and the car was driven by Lloyd L. Murray of Sunset Boulevard.
A 4-year-old boy was in the bus when the accident occurred.
Murray was taken by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown. His condition was not available this morning.
There were no other injuries, and police released no other details on the accident.
Counterfeit $20 bills
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Canfield man's 2002 Lexus, stolen in Youngstown last month, turned up Monday -- with 40 counterfeit $20 bills inside it, reports show.
Police spotted the car on Mahoning Avenue about 11 a.m. and pursued it to a driveway on North Evanston Avenue. The driver ran off.
Police said the passenger, Isaac Green, 48, of Hammaker Street, faces charges of receiving stolen property and criminal simulation. Police said a bag found in the car contained the counterfeit money.
Woman, men arrested
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Niles woman and two Youngstown men were arrested around 3 p.m. Tuesday on Cooper Street in a car Boardman police had listed as taken without authorization.
The driver, Jasmine Molina, 20, of Vienna Avenue, Niles, was arrested on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving under suspension and possession of suspected crack cocaine.
Her passengers -- Ian Perry, 26, of Park Avenue and Paul Perry, 26, of Potomac Avenue -- were each charged with consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Ian Perry was also charged with unauthorized use and possession of suspected crack.
Family Literacy Night
GIRARD -- Prospect Elementary, 700 Prospect St., is the site for a Fall Family Literacy Night.
The free event, set for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, is open to pupils in kindergarten through third grade and their families to promote the value of reading.
Cigarettes stolen
AUSTINTOWN -- Police are looking for the man who stole eight cartons of cigarettes from the BP gas station at Mahoning Avenue and Meridian Road about 7 p.m. Monday.
The man asked to see the cigarettes to determine whether they were "fresh" before he bought them. The man started to leave with them. When the clerk told the man to pay, the man responded, "Don't make me shoot you," and left. He showed no gun, police said.