Suspect arrested in several robberies

The accused man will be in Youngstown Municipal Court today.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — A Niles man who police say caused terror in three communities over a period of two days, committing strong-arm robberies at four locations, is now in police custody.

According to police reports, Clifford Raynovich, 28, of Evans Street, Niles, was arrested in Youngstown on Tuesday night after the would-be victims of a robbery attempt chased him on foot down Salt Springs Road, where Youngstown police picked him up.

Raynovich is due in Youngstown Municipal Court today. He is charged with robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Girard Detective Greg Manente said Girard police will likely file charges for two robberies in that city. He also said Liberty police are investigating Raynovich for a similar robbery in that jurisdiction.

According to Youngstown police reports, Raynovich went into Cherol’s Market on Salt Springs Road just before 4 p.m. Tuesday and attempted to buy a pack of gum. Employees told police the man reached over the counter and grabbed money out of the register, then pushed a pregnant woman out of the way as he ran from the store.

Police reports said an employee and a customer chased the man down Salt Springs Road. Raynovich was later arrested by police behind a business at the corner of Bessemer and Waverly Streets. Reports said that store employees identified him as the man who stole the money.

Officers said they found a crack pipe and drug paraphernalia on Raynovich at the time of his arrest.

Several hours before the Salt Springs Road incident, Girard police say there was a robbery at the Trumbull Party Shop on Trumbull Avenue. Employees at the store told police that Raynovich, whom they said they knew by name from a previous incident there, attempted to buy some candy. When the clerk opened the drawer, he head-butted the employee and grabbed the cash register, taking the cash inside, they said.

The employee had a cut on his cheek and finger. The robber is believed to have made off with more than $1,200 in cash.

Earlier that same morning, Shultsy’s Gas Station on Belmont Avenue in Liberty Township reported a robbery to police. The man requested $3 worth of gas from the full-service attendant then went inside the business. Once inside, the man asked for change then snatched $84 from the attendant and fled south on Belmont Avenue.

Liberty police Capt. Richard Tisone said officers are planning to file charges in the robbery.

“We are doing a photo lineup at the business,” he said. “With that, in conjunction with the video surveillance we have, we expect to file charges soon.”

Manente said Raynovich is also a suspect in a robbery at the Shell Foodmart on South State Street in Girard on Monday.

According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Web site, Raynovich was sentenced to a year in prison for robbery in May 2006. He was released in December 2006 and placed on three years’ probation.

jgoodwin@vindy.com