Officer fired after drug trafficking indictment

YOUNGSTOWN — A corrections officer at the juvenile detention center was fired todayafter being arrested on a three-count cocaine trafficking indictment.

Robert G. Anderson, 36, of Francisca Avenue, lost his job at Mahoning County’s Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center after his arrest Wednesday on the charges contained in a secret county grand juryindictment.
“Due to the seriousness of the allegations and the emphasis of the juvenile court on protecting the youth of the community and the youth in detention, and to show how seriously we take this, we have terminated Mr. Anderson,” said Anthony D’Apolito, juvenile court administrator.

Anderson was hired by the county in June 2003 and his salary for 2007 was $30,742. His arraignment on the drug charges will be in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Members of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force stopped Anderson about 5:40 p.m. as he exited Interstate 680 at High Street and confiscated from him a 9mm pistol, for which he had a concealed carry permit.

Anderson sold drugs all over the city starting in 2006, but not at JJC, according to Patrolman Bob Patton of the city police, who is a task force member. More arrests in this case are pending, Patton said.