Sharon woman reports she was nearly abducted

Sharon woman reportsshe was nearly abducted
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said a 21-year-old city woman reported that a man tried to abduct her as she walked along East State Street.
The victim said she was walking west in the 400 block around 11 p.m. Tuesday when a man in an older white car pulled up and asked her if she wanted a ride. The woman said she declined and the man drove away.
She kept walking and ran into the man again in the 200 block. This time, he was on foot and asked her to go with him. The victim said she refused again and the man pulled a small knife out of his pocket and grabbed her, threatening to kill her.
She said she broke away and ran three blocks to the McDonald's restaurant to call police.
She described her attacker as a white man about 5 feet 4 inches tall with a medium build and dirty blond hair.
He wore glasses, an orange hooded shirt and khaki shorts and had a gold earring, she said.
Walk in comfort
COLUMBIANA -- Columbiana Schools' Walk Warm program resumes Monday at Columbiana High School. School officials invite adults to walk the high school hallways for exercise out of inclement weather. A measured course is posted for walkers who choose to keep an accurate log of distance. The building is open for Walk Warm from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday when school is in session.
Break-ins attempted
SALEM -- Police have received two reports of people trying to enter homes in the past two days.
Peter Zeigler of 925 South Ave., said a man attempted to enter his home through a screened window about 10:06 p.m. Thursday. After a brief struggle, the man fled.
Deana Young, East State Street, told police that someone tried to enter her daughter's room through a window at 12:18 a.m. Tuesday. The screen had been removed. Police searched but found no one.
Woman is scam victim
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said an 83-year-old South Irvine Avenue woman was the victim of a theft by deception scam. The victim got a call around 7 p.m. Thursday from a woman purporting to be her niece and asking for $62. The caller said she would send a friend to pick up the money. The victim said a woman came to her door a short time later and asked for the money and took the envelope containing the cash. Police said the woman's niece never made the phone call.
Lincoln Highway program
COLUMBIANA -- Bob Lichty, Director of the Canton Classic Car Museum, will present the history of the Lincoln Highway at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Columbiana Public Library. Learn about America's first transcontinental highway and enjoy a slide presentation of a cross-country trip along this historic route.
Registration is required.
Call the library at (330) 482-5509 for more information.
Man charged in burglary
SHARON, Pa. -- Police charged Daniel M. Taafe, 27, of Warren-Sharon Road, Masury, with burglary and theft in the Aug. 23 burglary of the Side Pocket Cafe at 109 E. Silver St.
Police said Taafe was already in jail on a Sharon charge of illegal use of a credit card when he was charged with the Side Pocket burglary Thursday.
He was arraigned and returned to jail.
An undisclosed amount of cash was taken in the burglary.
Living conditions probed
YOUNGSTOWN -- Children Services Board and the Youngstown Health Department are investigating the living conditions at a home in the 100 block of Willis Avenue, where seven children live.
Police were called to the house about 7:45 p.m. Thursday by a woman who said she could not control her 14-year-old son.
Police discovered trash strewn throughout the house, which was infested with roaches and rodents, a bat hanging near the fireplace, piles of dirty dishes and a five-gallon bucket of urine in the bathroom. There was no running water. Two mattresses were on a bedroom floor and there was very little furniture. Gallon jugs of water and bowls of noodles were on the kitchen floor.
The woman told police her water was shut off only two days ago because her landlord had illegally connected it. Her children range in age from 1 month to 14 years.
Sidewalk office hours
WARREN -- Councilman John Homlitas, D-3rd, will conduct sidewalk office hours at 9 a.m. Saturday at Kenilworth Avenue and Woodland Street N.E.