3 arrested in raids

3 arrested in raids
YOUNGSTOWN -- Three men were arrested in separate drug raids when members of the Vice Squad used search warrants Thursday night to enter homes on Belmont and Bennington avenues. At 1531 Bennington, police charged Billy T. Carter, 19, of Atkinson Avenue with carrying a concealed weapon and trafficking in marijuana. The resident, David Jackson, 19, was charged with drug abuse (marijuana). At the arraignment Friday in municipal court, Carter's bond was set at $50,000 and a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 6. Jackson didn't appear and a warrant was issued for his arrest. At 614 1/2 Belmont, police charged the resident, James E. Harris, 45, with illegal possession of a weapon based on a prior conviction, possession of a dangerous ordnance (sawed-off shotgun) and permitting drug abuse. His bond was set at $80,000 and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 6.
Fasten your belts
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Neshannock Township Police Department is participating in the national "Click it, or Ticket" campaign. The department has distributed fliers and place mats to township restaurants to promote seat-belt use. The campaign started this week and will last until next weekend and include the holiday weekend. Restaurants that are participating are El Canelo, Wendy's, McDonald's, Tanner's and Taco Bell.
Weekend sobriety tests
A sobriety checkpoint will be held from 10:30 p.m. today until 2:30 a.m. Sunday at an undisclosed location in Mahoning County sponsored by the OVI (operating while visibly impaired) Task Force. Participants include the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department and police from North Jackson, Beaver, New Middletown, Springfield, Poland, Goshen, Canfield and Austintown. Police also will conduct saturation patrols throughout the Memorial Day holiday weekend and focus on impaired drivers and seat-belt use.
Missing flag holders
WARREN -- Oakwood Cemetery, 860 Niles-Warren Road, told city police Thursday that 70 aluminum flag holders -- placed there on Wednesday in preparation from Memorial Day -- are now missing. Someone went through the cemetery and took them from graves, according to a police report.
Fair condition
WARREN -- An 11-year-old Bon Air Street Northwest girl is listed in fair condition at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, after being struck by a pickup truck. Police said JaLynn Webster darted on a bicycle in front of a Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Joseph E. Seman III of State Road about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. She flew off the bike and landed on pavement. Seman was not cited. The child was flown to the hospital by helicopter.
Break-in investigation
CORTLAND -- City police are looking for two vehicles believed to be involved in a Thursday break-in at Hopkins Pharmacy on High Street. Police responded to an alarm at the building at 12:28 a.m. Thursday and saw at least two people in the building wearing ski masks and emptying drawers into large bags, reports said. The rear side pharmacy door window was broken. Despite repeat commands from police, the suspects fled, leaving behind bags of pills and cough syrups. A resident on an adjoining street saw three people run through a yard. A silver early 1990s Pontiac Grand Prix and a black Chevrolet Lumina Z34 were seen leaving the area at a high speed. Police said anyone with information should contact them at (330) 638-1000.
New jail contracts
MERCER, Pa. -- Contracts for goods and equipment for the new county jail were awarded recently by Mercer County commissioners. They included contracts for: $23,293 worth of inmate clothing and uniforms from Robinson Textiles, Gardena, Calif.; $564 for laundry bags from ATD America, Wyncote, Pa.; $7,557 to Bound Tree Medical, LLC, Dublin, Ohio, for medical safety equipment; $3,140 to CMP, New Castle, for janitorial equipment; and $2,623 to M & amp;R Lawn Equipment for small power equipment. Commissioners also agreed to re-advertise for bids for mattresses, bedding, linens and maintenance tools and equipment.