Felon is arrested after police chase

Felon is arrestedafter police chase
YOUNGSTOWN -- Damon Slocum, a felon with a gun and without a valid driver's license, was arrested after a police chase that went from the South Side to the West Side and ended when he jumped out of his moving car, reports show. The car crashed into a parked vehicle at First and Steel streets. Slocum, 25, of Brooklyn Avenue, was arraigned Wednesday in municipal court. Bond was set at $86,000. He faces charges of carrying a concealed weapon, illegal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, failure to comply with a police order, driving under suspension and failure to stop after an accident. Police began their pursuit because the car Slocum was driving was similar to one involved in an armed robbery around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday on Cameron Avenue. Police confiscated a .40-caliber handgun and loaded magazine from Slocum.
No charges for officer
YOUNGSTOWN -- No charges will be filed against Detective Sgt. Bill Ross, whose city cruiser hit a car Oct. 20, killing the driver. City Prosecutor Dionne M. Almasy said she reviewed the facts of the crash and determined that Ross had the right of way at the intersection of Williamson Avenue and Erie Street. Almasy said Ross had the cruiser's lights and siren on, according to witnesses.
Awaiting more results
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City police are waiting for more autopsy results before filing homicide charges in the shooting death of Sean Smith, 35, of West Lutton Street. Police Chief Tom Sansone said preliminary results showed Smith was shot five times in the chest. He died Monday night at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Police found two weapons in the suspects' car when they were arrested after a crash on U.S. Route 422 and Liberty-Struthers Road in Youngstown. Five people in the car -- Sheila Brothers, 30, of Warren; Naomi Brothers, 24, of New Castle; Michael Price, 29, of Youngstown; Teandre DeMarco, 29, of Warren; and Russell Florence, 31, of New Castle -- are being held in Lawrence County Jail on assault and conspiracy charges. Sansone said the shooting was the result of a drug transaction gone bad.
Action over junk vehicles
WARREN -- The Fowler Township zoning inspector has asked a judge to stop two residents from storing junk vehicles and other items on their property. Zoning Inspector Nancy Shook filed the action this week in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court against Edward D. and Nora J. Scandreth of 3358 Milear Road. Shook alleges the Scandreths' property, which is zoned residential, contains inoperable, damaged and junk motor vehicles, auto parts and miscellaneous debris in violation of the township zoning laws and constitutes a nuisance.
Youth committee officer
CANFIELD -- Melissa Riehl of North Lima was elected secretary of the Ohio Youth Committee of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation during the federation's annual meeting in Columbus. At the same meeting, the Mahoning County Farm Bureau Youth Council was recognized for placing second in the Outstanding Ohio Youth Council competition. Advisers for the local youth council are Marguerite and Paul Gillern.
Prison for gang member
YOUNGSTOWN -- A member of the Southside Soldiers street gang has been sentenced to prison. Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge R. Scott Krichbaum sentenced Maurice Morris, 22, of Judson Avenue, to three years Tuesday for engaging in a pattern of criminal gang activity and one year for receiving stolen property. The sentences are concurrent. Assistant Prosecutor Robert E. Duffrin said the Southside Soldiers have committed various crimes in Youngstown and Boardman. Gang members made money by stealing cars, then selling them to chop shops. Morris, a high school graduate who was trained in auto repair, was the oldest member of the gang, Duffrin said. Morris has three previous felony convictions and received no jail time for any of them, Duffrin said. It's not clear who sentenced Morris in those cases.
Replacing bridge
COLUMBIANA -- Work is expected to begin Dec. 19 to replace the state Route 164 bridge over Little Beaver Creek in Fairfield Township, the Ohio Department of Transportation announced. One lane of traffic will be maintained with temporary traffic signals. DOT Construction Corp. of Canfield is contractor for the $343,000 project. Completion date is mid-August 2006.