MUNICIPAL COURT YSU police surround residence, capture man

Raymond Pankey has a lengthy criminal record.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University campus police surrounded a house on Ohio Avenue after an attempted break-in and found a career criminal.
Raymond L. Pankey, 50, of Fifth Avenue, was taken into custody around 12:15 a.m. Sunday and arraigned Monday via video in municipal court on a charge of attempted breaking and entering. Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. set bond at $500,000. Pankey will be back in court Oct. 11 for a pretrial.
Anthony J. Farris, chief assistant city prosecutor, told the judge that Pankey has a "massive record." Farris said the record includes rape, molestation, compelling prostitution, menacing by stalking and breaking and entering.
Mahoning County records show Pankey has at least six breaking-and-entering convictions, as well as convictions for vandalism, assault, criminal trespass and possession of criminal tools. At municipal court, his misdemeanor record includes criminal trespass (four times), aggravated menacing, receiving stolen property, theft, criminal damaging and possession of criminal tools.
Farris told Judge Douglas that because of Pankey's record, campus police were concerned because he tried to break into a house in the 800 block of Ohio Avenue occupied by two young women.
Campus police handled the call because city police were busy, said YSU Sgt. Mike Cretella. He said the victims are YSU students.
Victim's account
One of the victims, 19, told campus police that she and her roommate were walking up their driveway when they noticed a side window broken and the screen cut. Police who surrounded the house found Pankey at the rear, according to reports.
A neighbor told police that he heard glass breaking and saw someone run to the rear when the two roommates arrived and began walking up their driveway.
Farris said Pankey, who "roams the North Side," was caught with four screwdrivers, vice grips, two flashlights, pry bar, hammer, utility knife, wire snips, paring knife, box wrench and butter knife. Pankey told police he was in the area to visit friends.
Vindicator files show that most of Pankey's past criminal activity has taken place on the North Side.
meade@vindy.com