'Critical' after shooting

'Critical' after shooting
YOUNGSTOWN -- George Washington, 21, of Sherwood Avenue was in critical condition today in St. Elizabeth Health Center after being shot Tuesday. Police found Washington sitting in his 1992 Cadillac Eldorado in the 1300 block of Park Vista Drive about 6 p.m. He told police he had been shot, and an ambulance took him to the hospital. Police found an empty shell casing in the left rear passenger seat and had Washington's car impounded.
Break-in investigated
AUSTINTOWN -- Police are investigating a report that a man broke into the home of a South Edgehill Avenue woman Monday while she was sitting in her living room. The woman told police she heard her garage door open and heard a noise in her bathroom at about 3:30 p.m. She then saw a man come out of her bathroom and into the living room. When the man saw her, he ran to his car, which he had parked in the garage, and drove away, the woman told police. Police said the screen on the woman's bathroom window had been forced open.
Theft at mausoleum
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 77-year-old Austintown woman visiting a mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery on Mahoning Avenue on Tuesday afternoon said her purse was stolen from her unlocked car. The West-chester Drive woman told police the purse contained her driver's license, credit cards and $300.
Felonious-assault case
YOUNGSTOWN -- Austin L. Mendenhall, 19, of Delaware Avenue was arrested Tuesday on a warrant charging him with two counts of felonious assault. Mendenhall is accused of trying to use his car to run over two police officers who attempted to conduct a traffic stop Saturday. Police said Mendenhall put his car in reverse toward the officers, who each fired one shot at the suspect. Mendenhall's car struck a tree, and he fled on foot, police said.
Case of Internet fraud
AUSTINTOWN -- A township man told police he was a victim of fraud on the Internet auction site eBay. The man said he wired $1,300 to New York City and $1,000 to Indonesia in August for stereo equipment he purchased from a company on eBay. When he didn't receive the equipment, he called the company president, who said the sale was a fraud. The man reported the fraud to police Tuesday.
Facing burglary charge
CAMPBELL -- William C. Stitzel, 28, of Fifth Street was bound over to the grand jury on a burglary charge during his preliminary hearing in municipal court Tuesday. Stitzel was arrested inside a neighbor's house May 16 after his family told police that he had broken in while the homeowner was away. He is in the Mahoning County jail with bond set at $7,500.
Men steal woman's purse
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two men who told a 79-year-old East LaClede Avenue woman that her spouting needed to be repaired were then allowed in the house Tuesday to point out other repair projects and, while inside, stole her purse, police said.
The men arrived in a black pickup truck and parked in the woman's driveway, where they first engaged her in conversation. She didn't realize the purse was missing until they left.
The purse contained house keys, medical cards, a checkbook and $10.
The suspects are each described as white, 6 feet tall and 30 to 40 years old. One has a light complexion and red hair and weighs 250 pounds; the other has dark hair and slight facial-hair growth and weighs 190 pounds.
Engineer's employees
WARREN -- Trumbull County Engineer John Latell has increased compensation for 14 nonunion employees who work in his office.
All but three of the workers will receive $500 bonuses and a 1-percent increase in the employer contribution to their retirement accounts, the same deal given to union workers in the first year of a recently ratified contract.
The top three employees got raises on top of the 1-percent increase in retirement account.
Administrator and personnel director Rocky Riviella's salary was increased by $3,000 to $66,809; deputy engineer Randy Smith's salary was increased by $2,000 to $74,464; and highway superintendent Chris Connelly's salary was increased by $1,000 to $54,538.