Safety hazards found

Safety hazards found
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two unsecured vacant buildings on West Federal Street present a safety hazard, according to police who noticed open doors while patrolling at 1 a.m. today. A search of 142 West Federal was suspended after police determined the floor was unsafe. Officers discovered plywood torn off 130 West Federal and the display window broken. No one was found inside when police searched.
Shooting at house
YOUNGSTOWN -- A house in the 1600 block of Midland Avenue was shot up around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, police said. The gunfire shattered windows at the front and rear of the house. The resident, a 56-year-old woman, said she hit the floor and called 911 when she heard the shots. Police were given the name of a possible suspect.
Women arrested
AUSTINTOWN -- Police said they arrested a Youngstown woman early today after they found a suspected crack pipe in her pocket and she lied to officers about her identity. Debra Carter, 38, of Ohio Avenue, is charged with obstructing official business, possession of drug paraphernalia and trespassing. She also was wanted by the Trumbull County sheriff's office on a warrant for failing to appear in court on escape and resisting arrest charges, reports state. Carter was to be arraigned this morning in Mahoning County Court in Austintown. Police said Carter was a passenger in a car driven by Denise Karcher, 33, of Cooper Street, Youngstown, that was stopped for an equipment violation in a truck stop parking lot along Seventy-six Drive. Police said they found two suspected crack pipes and a plastic bag containing suspected crack. Police charged Karcher with drug abuse-cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and permitting drug abuse in a motor vehicle. She also was set to be arraigned today in county court in Austintown.
Communities honored
AAA and Ohio Motorists Safety Foundation honored the communities of Howland Township, Lordstown and McDonald during a luncheon recently at the Holiday Inn in Independence, Ohio. Accepting the awards for not having a pedestrian fatality for 11 years in Lordstown was Police Chief Brent Milhoan; four years in McDonald, Police Chief Lou Ronghi; and one year in Howland Township, Police Chief Paul Monroe.
Counseling sessions
YOUNGSTOWN -- Catholic Charities Regional Agency offers free "How to Survive Holiday Grief" counseling sessions from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Nov. 11 and 18 at the agency offices, 2401 Belmont Ave. Call (330) 744-3320 for information.
Intruder in van
YOUNGSTOWN -- An Austintown man waiting for his food order at Periscoop on Mahoning Avenue around 12:40 a.m. Sunday spotted a young man inside his minivan. He approached the man and was punched and thrown to the ground in the parking lot. The victim said he saw his attacker run to a gray car, which fled south on BonAir Avenue. The minivan's front license plate, which had been inside the vehicle, was taken, police said.
Arraignment set
AUSTINTOWN -- A Youngstown man accused by police of trying to steal $233 in groceries from IGA on Mahoning Avenue was set to be arraigned this morning in Mahoning County Court in Austintown. Jeffrey Queen, 33, of South Meridian Road, is charged by police with theft. He was arrested Saturday. He also was wanted by the Mahoning County sheriff's office on a warrant for failing to appear in court on a probation violation.