Warren man enters pleas in hit-and-run case

The suspect came to court dressed in a purple suit and cream-colored shoes.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- A Warren man charged in a hit-and-run accident that severely injured an 11-year-old Howland girl didn't surrender to authorities out of remorse, police say.
"He's not admitting anything, not to us," police Capt. Charles Wilson said Tuesday before the arraignment of Irving R. Russ of Risher Road.
Russ is charged in the Aug. 16, 2004, crash that left Annie Lee a quadriplegic. She remains on a respirator in the Cleveland Clinic.
Russ appeared before municipal Judge Thomas W. Townley in a purple suit and cream-colored shoes.
He entered no pleas on the felony charges of leaving the scene of an accident, obstructing official business and tampering with evidence. He pleaded innocent to a misdemeanor, driving under suspension.
Judge Townley set a preliminary hearing on the felonies for 9:45 a.m. Sept. 30, and a pretrial hearing at the same time for the traffic charge.
Russ remains free on $26,000 bond.
He declined to answer reporters' questions after his initial appearance, as did defense attorney Francis Dunn of Warren. Dunn was standing in for Atty. John Fowler, also of Warren.
Annie's father, Chung Lee, was not available Tuesday because he was at the clinic visiting his daughter.
Traced SUV
Police reported in August 2004 that Annie and her grandmother and 3-year-old brother were crossing U.S. Route 422 at North Road when a dark SUV struck them and fled.
Police determined that a 1992 Mazda Navajo owned by Raheema Wright of Warren hit the girl. Russ is Wright's former boyfriend, police said.
Wilson said the only reason Russ surrendered to police Friday was that warrants for his arrest were issued by Judge Townley and police had notified his attorney, Fowler.
Wilson would not comment when asked what specific information led to the charges' being filed, but did say it was the result of following leads and the prosecutor's reading witness statements.
Wright reported her vehicle missing to Warren police about the time of the crash.
Wright was charged by Warren police with obstruction of justice and filing a false report. She was fined $250 in Warren Municipal Court and placed on two years' probation.
yovich@vindy.com