Man charged with pulling knife in theft try

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — A 37-year-old city man was arrested late Friday on allegations that he used a knife in a failed attempt to steal a can of beer.

Orin D. Canty of Hilton Avenue was arrested in front of Belmont Food Mart, 911 Belmont Ave., about 10:15 p.m. The store owner and his son said they took the pocket knife from him.

When officers arrived at the store, they saw a man, later identified as Canty, stagger out of the store and lean on a steel pipe. Officers arrested him at gunpoint.

The store owner then gave officers the folding knife and told them that Canty had pointed it at him and a store employee after he was confronted about not paying for a beer.

The store owner said he told Canty he would have to pay for the beer he was attempting to take out of the store, and Canty took the knife out of his pocket and pointed it.

The store owner and his son wrested the knife away from Canty just before officers arrived, police said.

Canty was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center for evaluation, police said. He has a court date at 9 a.m. Monday in Youngstown Municipal Court on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated robbery. The penalty for the offense is up to 10 years in prison.