3 connected with auto theft appear in court

BOARDMAN -- The case of a Youngstown man arrested last Wednesday on felonious auto theft charges has been bound over to a grand jury.
James Eiland Jr., 29, of Lincoln Park, is charged with auto theft and possessing criminal tools -- bolt cutters/pliers he had at the time of the arrest.
Another man involved in the crime, Brian Brown, 34, of Howard Street, worked out a plea arrangement. He was arrested on a charge of complicity to auto theft.
And a third man, Brad Walker, 28, of East Judson Avenue, also arrested on a charge of complicity to auto theft, retained counsel and will be seen again in court. That date has not yet been determined.
All three men had preliminary hearings here Tuesday in the Mahoning County Court of Judge Joseph M. Houser.
Charges against the three stemmed from their arrests last Wednesday when a Brookfield Avenue man alerted police after observing Eiland break his car's window, start the engine and try to leave the driveway. After noticing the owner, police said, Eiland and Brown fled the scene in a van driven by Walker, abandoning the car.
Police located the suspects' van traveling north on West Boulevard. According to the police report, officers initiated a traffic stop and arrested the men, later identified by the victim.