YPD to probe its role in botched murder case

YOUNGSTOWN —The city police department will conduct an investigation into allegations that it may have “compromised” a key piece of evidence in a murder case.

Because of that allegation, the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion to dismiss the indictment against Arian S. O’Connor of Youngstown; a request honored Monday by a judge.

That county prosecutor’s office says Youngstown police mixed up two shell casings.

One casing was found near Javan Rogers of Akron, who was found murdered Aug. 26, 2002, off Steel Street in Youngstown. O’Connor was charged with murder and kidnapping related to Rogers’ murder.

The other casing was found in the Salt Springs Road home of Rosalyn Turner, who said O’Connor shot at her.

Initially the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office questioned if Youngstown police purposely switched the bullets.

But Brad Gessner, head of Summit County Prosecutor’s criminal division, said Tuesday he believed Youngstown police didn’t do anything “sinister” with the shell casings.

Gessner met Tuesday with two police officers and city Prosecutor Jay Macejko to discuss the matter.

“We don’t know what happened, but I don’t believe anyone did anything on purpose,” he said. “Mistakes happen.”

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator or vindy.com