Warrant issued in killing

Warrant issued in killing

YOUNGSTOWN — A murder warrant was issued Tuesday for the man detectives believe shot 22-year-old Lawrence E. Anderson II to death sometime last month, said Capt. Kenneth Centorame, chief of detectives.

Damon J. Damous, who will be 26 on Friday, is incarcerated in Akron on a unrelated charge and will be brought here for arraignment this week, Centorame said. Damous’ last known address was on West Marion Avenue.

Anderson, of East Pasadena Avenue, was found around 3 a.m. Monday in the basement of a vacant apartment complex at 309 W. Glenaven Ave. His mother reported him missing June 12.

Anderson is the city’s 17th homicide victim of the year. There were 15 homicides at this time last year.

Trial set in cop assault

AUSTINTOWN — A trial date has been set for a township man who is facing charges of assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, possession of dangerous drugs and operating a vehicle under the influence.

Christopher Koval, 25, will appear in Mahoning County Court here at 1 p.m. July 28. He faces one felony charge for the assault of an officer, while the rest are misdemeanors.

Police arrested Koval on Monday morning after he wrestled with a police officer, who had to use a Taser to subdue him. Police said Koval struck the officer in the face after a traffic stop.

Armed robbery thwarted

CAMPBELL — Two masked men armed with an assault rifle tried to rob the B T Beverage Express at 134 12th Street about 10:15 p.m. Monday.

Police said the men walked into the business, shouted “Give it up” and began shooting the rifle over the counter at the clerk.

The clerk said he “grabbed his .357 revolver” and fired five rounds at the men as they fled out the side door.

Police said they recovered five shell casings on the floor near the door where the suspects stood, and found three bullet holes in the wall and stove hood behind the counter.

Marijuana plants seized

GIRARD — City police confiscated two marijuana plants growing in two separate backyards on the same day.

A Crumlin Avenue property owner gave officers consent to search the rental property Monday after firefighters informed him that marijuana was growing in the backyard. Firefighters had responded to a bonfire at the home. Officers went to the house and found a 36-inch plant growing in the rear of the house. The woman renting the home with her children said she knew nothing about the plant.

Two hours later, officers, responding to a tip, searched a vacant home on East Second Street for marijuana plants. Officers found a plant in the rear of that home sitting inside a purple plastic container.

No arrests have been made.

Firebombs fail to ignite

YOUNGSTOWN — Possibly two firebombs broke the front porch window of 537 Carroll St. on the South Side at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, the fire department said. No injuries were reported, and no fire was started.

Firefighters collected a fuse and glass on the porch and another fuse and more glass in the living room. The occupants left to stay with a relative, reports show.

Zero-tolerance blitz

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Operating Vehicle Impaired Task Force will be conducting a zero- tolerance blitz to deter and intercept impaired drivers from 8 p.m. to midnight Thursday. Officers will be in an area of Mahoning County that has a high rate of impaired driving.

During the blitz in Youngstown on Saturday, six drivers were arrested on OVI charges out of a total of 71 stops. An additional four arrests were made for driving under suspension.

Trash pickup delay

GIRARD — City officials have announced a one-day delay in trash pickup this week because of the July 4 holiday.

Trash should be placed at the curb Friday evening for Saturday morning pickup.