MURDER Police follow tip to arrest suspect

They said they found the suspect hiding in an attic.
YOUNGSTOWN -- With an assist from the fire department, city police have arrested a suspect in the murder of a 28-year-old Forestview Avenue woman who was found dead Sunday morning in her boyfriend's bed.
Lee Johnson Jr., 33, of Samuel Avenue, was arrested Friday afternoon on a warrant charging him with murder in the death of Regina Miller.
Acting on a tip, police said they found Johnson hiding in an attic at 20 S. Forest Ave. on the city's East Side. Police ascended a ladder on a fire department truck and broke out an attic window to apprehend Johnson, according to police Lt. Robin Lees.
Theotis Jackson, 57, owner and occupant of the Forest Avenue home, who told police Johnson was his nephew, was arrested on an obstruction of justice charge. Jackson exited his house and told police he knew Johnson was wanted for murder but that nobody was in his house, police said.
Police said they observed a small attic hatch inside the house with footprints on the adjacent wall indicating someone had recently climbed into the attic. Police said they called out into the attic for the suspect with no results, then called the fire department.
Domestic violence reports
Miller was found dead at Johnson's South Side residence. Johnson's father told police his son had gotten into a fight with Miller and both fell asleep.
Domestic violence reports were filed against Johnson in August, September and earlier this month, police said. Johnson also has a felony drug conviction, according to Mahoning County Common Pleas Court records.
Police said Miller never followed through with a domestic violence charge after calling police Oct. 8 to report that Johnson punched her and threw her through a front window when she told him to leave her East Side home.