Assault charge

Assault charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- Myrthys D. Robbins, 26, of East Ravenwood Avenue was arrested at 2 a.m. today on a charge of felonious assault after the father of one of her three children told police that she tried to run him over with her car. The victim said Robbins broke two windows at his home and then, when he went to a store at Dewey and South avenues, tried three times to run him over. The man said he had to run behind a utility pole to avoid the car and also stood behind crash poles at the store's outside pay phone to protect himself.
Group to hold yard sale
YOUNGSTOWN -- The 7th Ward Citizens' Coalition will have its third annual yard sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Ipe Field on East Midlothian Boulevard. Spaces to display items for the yard sale remain. Call coalition President John R. Swierz at (33) 788-5114 for more information. City police also will fingerprint children from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and there will be an appearance from McGruff the Crime Dog. The yard sale also will feature food vendors and the Mustang Car Club showing cars and motorcycles.
Grant-writing workshop
CANFIELD -- U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th, will host a grant-writing workshop from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Ursuline Sister House on Shields Road. Strickland said he is having the workshop -- with assistance from federal, state and local organizations -- to help groups and government officials write effective proposals and applications for grants.
Judge sentences man
YOUNGSTOWN -- Kenneth Patterson, 26, of West Delason Avenue, was sentenced to seven years in prison Tuesday by Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, after a jury convicted him of felonious assault. Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Krueger said Patterson kicked his former girlfriend, Dynisha Weathers, in May, causing her to suffer a lacerated liver. Weathers now lives in Illinois but returned to the area to testify during the trial.
I-680 ramp restrictions
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Interstate 680 off ramp from northbound state Route 11 to westbound Interstate 80 will have various lane restrictions from today. This work is part of the $780,000 project to upgrade and replace overhead signs and supports on I-680 and state Route 711 from I-80 to South Avenue. This project is scheduled for completion this fall.
Woman sues Liberty police
YOUNGSTOWN -- A North Gray Street woman is seeking at least $25,000 in damages from Liberty Township and its police department for injuries she suffered in a traffic accident. Suvella M. Ravnell filed the lawsuit recently in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. The suit says Ravnell was a passenger in a car that was hit by a Liberty Township police car on Lansdowne Boulevard in June 2003.
Judge sets trial date
STRUTHERS -- Judge James R. Lanzo set a trial date of Nov. 22 for Stefan L. Syrjanen, 19, of Knollwood Avenue, Poland, during his arraignment in municipal court Wednesday. Syrjanen is charged with drug abuse and criminal damaging. He was arrested Friday after a witness reported seeing a man shooting at streetlights. Police confiscated a pellet gun and suspected marijuana from Syrjanen.
Jury indicts area man
CLEVELAND -- A federal grand jury has indicted a Campbell man on a charge of possessing a firearm after he was convicted of a felony. Charged is Dustin R. Hennings, 23, of Bright Avenue. The case was investigated by Campbell police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Hennings is being prosecuted under "Project Safe Neighborhoods," a U.S. Department of Justice program that targets armed felons for federal prosecution.
Online fraud report filed
YOUNGSTOWN -- An Alma Avenue man who took part in an eBay auction for baseball cards Aug. 1 told police Wednesday that he sent the California seller $501.30 and hasn't received the cards or been able to reach the seller since then. The man said he's been in contact with three other bidders (not from this area), all of whom were told they had the highest bid and sent in their money. The local victim provided police with the seller's name and phone numbers in California and filed a fraud report with eBay. He said payment was made through PayPal, an online service, from his bank account.