FBI IDs robbery suspect

FBI IDs robbery suspect

CLEVELAND — Kenneth Gibson, 33, of Cleveland is a suspect in a series of bank robberies, including the Oct. 29 robbery at National City Bank in Austintown.

The FBI said Gibson was arrested Monday, minutes after the robbery of National City Bank on Lorain Road in Cleveland. The FBI said Gibson, a suspect in a dozen bank robberies in Ohio and Pennsylvania, showed a demand note to a teller each time.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Man gets court date

BOARDMAN — A Youngstown man is to appear Jan. 6 in Mahoning County Area Court for a preliminary hearing, charged with obstructing official business, resisting arrest and complicity to aggravated burglary. Randy Colello, 23, of Leah Avenue, was lodged in Mahoning County Jail.

Two residents of Woodrow Avenue told police that five men forced their way into the home about 10 p.m. Monday looking for their roommate. When the residents told the men they didn’t know who the roommate was, the men began to hit them. After a few minutes, the men left the home in a maroon Ford.

A police officer spotted a car matching the description on Market Street and followed with activated lights and siren as the car turned between two buildings in the 5200 block of Market. Three men fled the car in different directions. The officer caught Colello about 100 yards away. Police used dogs to try to track the other suspects but didn’t locate them.

New Salem councilman

SALEM — Bret K. Apple, 47, a Salem attorney, has been named an at-large city councilman to replace Justin Palmer.

Palmer is moving to Washington, D.C., to be a legislative aide to newly elected U.S. Rep. John Boccieri. Palmer had one year remaining in his first term in office.

Democratic Party official Patty Colian said Tuesday that Apple was the only person who expressed interest in the post.

Apple previously had served as a municipal court judge. He said he had been approached by several people who urged him to seek the post.

“I hope I can bring something to the mix,” Apple said.

Authorities await ruling on death of woman, 57

WARREN — Authorities are still awaiting a ruling from the Trumbull County coroner on the death of a 57-year-old city woman who lived alone and was found dead Saturday in her home on Fairmount Avenue Northeast.

She was found with a burned mattress in the bedroom.

Warren police and firefighters were called to the home of Barbara Murray at about 7 p.m. after a friend discovered her body on the bedroom floor.

Steve Williams, Warren’s assistant fire chief, said the mattress was the only thing that had burned in the house, though there was smoke damage throughout the bedroom.

A mattress will typically smoulder rather than ignite, and it appears that this mattress smoldered long enough to be consumed by the heat, he said. The woman’s body was not burned, he noted.

He said the death does not appear to be suspicious.

A neighbor talked to Murray late on Christmas Day, two days before her body was found, Williams said.

Arrest warrant issued

WARREN — Police have secured a warrant for the arrest of a man thought to be responsible for the theft of copper wiring from a Delphi Packard building on Paige Avenue Northeast.

A Warren police officer learned of copper thefts from an informant, secured a search warrant for a house on Belmont Street Northeast, about four blocks away, and discovered two 25-pound rolls of bare copper wire there early Monday.

Howland tree recycling

HOWLAND — Households expecting the township to recycle their Christmas trees have until Jan. 16.

Residents must put their natural tree curbside by Monday for pickup. By Jan. 16, the trees will be collected.

Those wishing to rid their homes or yards of their trees before then may drop them off between Monday and Jan. 16 at the Public Works Department at 3600 N. River Road.

All decorations must be removed from the trees before pickup or dropoff.

Call the public works department with any questions at (330) 856-4037.