Former Youngstown Pride player faces charges of assault, robbery

WARREN -- A former basketball standout accused of shooting a Liberty Township police officer is now under indictment by a Trumbull County grand jury on four charges.
Gary Robbins, 43, of Norwood Avenue, Youngstown, faces charges of aggravated robbery, robbery, assault on a peace officer and breaking and entering.
The robbery and aggravated robbery charges include specifications that Robbins is a repeat violent offender.
Liberty police Capt. Richard Tisone said Robbins' arrest record goes back to 1995 and includes theft, robbery, drug possession and a 1996 felonious assault conviction involving a police officer.
Robbins was a member of the Youngstown Pride professional basketball team in the late 1980s. He also was a member of the Youngstown State University Penguins basketball team from 1984 to 1986 and led the Penguins in scoring in 1986.
Liberty police said Robbins shot Sgt. Robert Greaf in the forearm July 9 at Greaf's home.
A police report said Greaf arrived at home around 6 a.m. after working a shift for the police department. Greaf observed Robbins rummaging through a van on the property.
The officer confronted Robbins, and the shooting occurred during the struggle. Robbins was apprehended later on Burning Tree Lane.
Robbins will be arraigned before Judge John M. Stuard of Trumbull County Common Pleas court at 11:30 a.m. next Friday. He is in Trumbull County Jail on $500,000 bond.