Campbell man in stolen pickup caught today

YOUNGSTOWN — A Campbell man who police said rammed two cruisers early today to avoid capture in a stolen car smoked cracked while officers broke a passenger side window to pull him out.

Tim Vari, 54, of Sixth Street was arrested around 12:15 a.m. today on Applegate Road in Hubbard and taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center for treatment. Once released, he is expected to face two counts of felonious assault on a police officer and one each of fleeing and eluding, possession of crack and driving under suspension.

The pursuit began on McGuffey Road when police spotted a stolen 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe traveling eastbound. The driver sped up and drove over several East Side streets before stopping on Applegate, apparently from engine trouble.

Two of the cruisers that boxed in the vehicle were damaged when the driver of the Tahoe, later identified as Vari, smashed into them and drove off, police said. He didn’t get far because of the engine trouble and police boxed him in again. Police said Vari refused to get out of the locked pickup, and officers reported seeing him light up a suspected crack pipe. Officers broke a passenger side window to forcibly remove him.