Car, ambulance collide

Car, ambulance collide

YOUNGSTOWN — A car driven east on Poland Avenue on Thursday morning went left of center and collided head-on with a LifeFleet ambulance, said Detective Sgt. Rob Deichman, an accident investigator.

Deichman said the driver of the car, Candice Cole, 33, of Wolosyn Circle, Boardman, was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center in critical condition. He said the investigation continues.

No serious injuries were reported for the two-person ambulance crew.

Sex offender charged

WARREN — A registered sex offender has been indicted on two counts of rape, one count of kidnapping, one count of felonious assault and one count of attempted rape in assaults on a girl in late October.

Because Charles L. Lemmons III, 50, of Karl Avenue, Warren Township, was convicted in 1978 of rape, kidnapping and abduction, his charges add specifications that he is a repeat violent offender.

Warren police said he hit the 21-year-old woman with a hammer the same night. If convicted, he could get 48 years in prison.

Lakeview teen charged

CORTLAND — Police have charged a 17-year-old Bazetta boy on a misdemeanor charge of inducing panic over allegations that he threatened in an e-mail to kill members of his family and other unidentified individuals.

Cortland and Bazetta police received notification from the FBI on Thursday morning that the e-mail had been forwarded to the FBI, Bazetta Police Chief Chuck Sayers said.

Police later arrested the senior at Lakeview High School on the charge.

He was taken to the Trumbull County Juvenile Detention Center.

WFMJ fire ruled arson

YOUNGSTOWN — A fire that occurred at 4:12 a.m. Oct. 31 at WFMJ-TV 21 at 101 Boardman St. has been ruled arson, said Lt. Kevin Johnson, an arson investigator.

He said the fire was set along storage boxes on wooden shelving in the basement. He declined to say what was used to start the fire.

“I’m reviewing security tapes and employee logs to see who was there. There’s still a lot of work to do,” Johnson said.

If not for the smoke detector, the building would be a hole in the ground and firefighters could have been killed, he said, adding the basement is like a maze.

Damage was in excess of $100,000, he said.

Reward in Boardman

Boardman — A Boardman homeowner is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the Dec. 10 burglary of his home on Newport Drive.

The thieves got a collection of custom made family jewelry, two televisions and other merchandise, said Boardman Police Chief Patrick Berarduci.

“The homeowner wanted to offer the reward to help our investigation,” he said.

To be eligible for the reward, callers with any information concerning this crime should contact Sgt. Glen Riddle of the Street Crimes Unit at (330) 233-0609.

All calls will remain confidential.

Free flights for children

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Free airplane rides for youngsters ages 8 through 17 will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday at the New Castle Municipal Airport. The flights are part of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program designed to introduce youngsters to flight. Jack Thompson of Grove City will pilot the flights. For details, call (724) 652-5546.