Police urge public to help solve crimes

Tuesday, August 29, 2006 In a Friday homicide, bond was set at $750,000. By PATRICIA MEADE VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER YOUNGSTOWN — Most crime witnesses don't want to get involved in a police investigation, but there are other ways to provide "pieces of the puzzle," a chief of detectives says. Capt. Kenneth Centorame said it's understandable that some witnesses are scared and fear retaliation. He said Youngstown is not unique when it comes to reluctant witnesses, whether they see a homicide or a car accident. "At least provide information confidentially — it offers us a starting point," Centorame said Monday. "We're just asking that you provide pieces of the puzzle." He suggested that witnesses with cell phones at crime scenes step away from prying eyes and call 911 as soon as they can. "It's not snitching — if it were your relative, you'd want witnesses to provide information," he said. Centorame's comments come in the wake of the Aug. 19 slaying of Larry D. Jones, 31, of Ravenwood Avenue. Jones was shot multiple times in the stands at the former South High Stadium behind Eagle Heights Academy on Market Street while a peewee football game was in progress. Afterward, tips were slow in filtering in to detectives from the crowd of 600 or so who attended the game. Centorame said some of the crowd probably figured "let the others come forward" to report what they saw. Calls come in When word spread that information was needed by detectives, calls started coming in, he said. A warrant was then issued for Anthony M. Caulton, 25, of Hawthorne Avenue. A $5,000 reward is being offered by the U.S. Marshals Service for his capture. Call (866) 4-WANTED. Caulton has an unrelated possession of cocaine case pending in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He was indicted in January. A hearing on a motion to suppress evidence in that case is scheduled for Sept. 28. Another homicide In an unrelated homicide, bond has been set at $750,000 for 22-year-old Gregory A. McGee, who is charged with murder. McGee, of Selma Avenue, was video arraigned Monday in municipal court by Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly. The judge set a preliminary hearing for Sept. 5. McGee told the judge that he has no income. A lawyer will be appointed to represent him. McGee is accused of shooting Charles Bush, 21, of Lora Avenue at a house on Saranac Avenue around 4:45 p.m. last Friday. Bush died about five hours later after identifying McGee as the shooter, police said. Police arrested McGee at 2:30 a.m. Saturday at a house in the 1300 block of Grandview Avenue. The resident of the house, Stephen Johnson, 46, was expected to be arraigned today in municipal court on a charge of driving under suspension. Police said Johnson has 14 license suspensions, nine of which are open. Johnson was pulled over on Albert Street around 2:10 a.m. Saturday. Detective Sgt. Rick Alli, public information officer, said Monday that detectives are working on the motive in the Bush murder. Alli said that, in addition to the victim, witnesses stepped forward to identify McGee as the suspect. meade@vindy.com