2 Warren men charged in Bazetta break-in, chase

The arrests may have solved eight break-ins in Bazetta and Champion townships, police say.

BAZETTA — Two Warren men police arrested after a four-and-a-half-hour foot chase will be arraigned today in Trumbull County Central District Court.

“I’m impressed with [the officers’] perseverance. These guys chased them all night,” township Police Chief Charles W. Sayers said of the officers who made the arrests.

Charged with one count each of breaking and entering, attempted breaking and entering, aggravated trespass and resisting arrest are Wayne B. Mitchell, 27, of Adelaide Avenue, and Brandon S. Mitchell, 21, of South Fedderle Drive.

Sayers said the two men are related but doesn’t know how.

“They weren’t too forthcoming,” the chief said.

The Mitchells are being held in the Trumbull County Jail. A third suspect whom police did not identify remains at large.

Sayers said his officers were dispatched about 1:30 a.m. Monday to respond to a call of a prowler in the 800 block of Portage-Easterly Road.

The officers found fresh footprints around the residence. They also found footprints leading away from the residence and to other residences in the area, the chief said.

Bazetta police, joined by officers from Champion and Cortland, the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol, chased three suspects through backyards and wooded areas covering a seven-and-a-half-square-mile are.

During the chase, Sayers said, the officers found evidence of attempts to break into several other garages and buildings. The chase ended four and a half hours after it began.

Police says they believe that the arrests will clear up more than eight break-ins in Bazetta and Champion townships over the past few months.

Wayne Mitchell has a prior record of criminal damaging, possession of criminal tools, receiving stolen property and failing to comply to police orders.

Brandon Mitchell has a prior record of theft.