Man pleads innocent

Man pleads innocent
YOUNGSTOWN -- Gerald Freeman, accused of keeping $4,515 from the sale of fruit by The Rayen School band parents club, pleaded innocent to a felony theft charge Tuesday at arraignment in municipal court. Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. set Freeman's bond at $5,000, allowing 10 percent to be paid. Freeman, 51, of Ohio Avenue, will be back in court June 17 for a preliminary hearing. The judge appointed a lawyer to represent Freeman, who said he is a self-employed carpenter and not working. Freeman failed to deposit the fruit-sale money last November in the band club bank account, police said.
Man caught, arrested
YOUNGSTOWN -- A loaded .357 Magnum pistol tossed during a foot chase on Griffith Street at 11 p.m. Tuesday was retrieved by police, who then caught and arrested 57-year-old Warren G. Sayers of North Avenue. Police said Sayers ran when they approached and threw the handgun as he ran.
Police arrest driver
YOUNGSTOWN -- Gregory H. Young, driver of a Ford Ranger pickup truck stopped at 4:15 a.m. today for failing to signal a turn onto Overland Avenue, was arrested on charges of receiving stolen property and driving under suspension. Young, 44, of Crandall Avenue, was due in municipal court today for arraignment. Police said the truck had been stolen in Youngstown.
Charged with forgery
YOUNGSTOWN -- Latasha N. Riley, 31, of West Judson Avenue was arrested at home around 10 p.m. Tuesday on warrants charging her with forgery and receiving stolen property. Riley is accused of cashing a $3,011 Youngstown State University refund check that had been stolen, police said.
VA clinics to be closed
YOUNGSTOWN -- In respect of former President Reagan, and in accord with the executive order issued by President Bush, the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic on Belmont Avenue, VA clinics throughout Northeast Ohio, and nonemergency outpatient services at Wade Park and Brecksville will be closed Friday. The urgent-care center at Wade Park will remain open. Veterans with appointments for Friday will be notified of a rescheduled appointment. Veterans also may call their VA clinic to arrange a new appointment date.
Callers provide tips
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mona E. Williams, who was featured Monday in The Vindicator as wanted by the U.S. Marshals fugitive task force, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at a house on McGuffey Road. Deputy Marshal Dean Michael said tips from callers who saw the newspaper led to the arrest. Williams, 41, of Fairmont Avenue, faces charges of receiving stolen property, forgery (two counts), drug paraphernalia and petty theft.