Two charged in staged car crash case

YOUNGSTOWN — A database of Saturn vehicles led police to Hattie Gilbert, and she confessed to staging a car crash and named an accomplice who shot and robbed a KFC restaurant manager, police said.

Taran D. Helms, 22, of West Hylda Avenue was arrested today at a Salt Springs Road residence by the FBI/Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force. He is charged with attempted aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and felonious assault, said Lt. Mark Milstead.

Gilbert, 20, of East Judson Avenue is charged with attempted aggravated murder and aggravated robbery. She was arrested at her home around 9 a.m. today after detectives found the Saturn parked next door behind a vacant house at 701 East Judson.

The victim, Joseph Kaluza, 42, of Youngstown was shot in the neck. His sister said he is paralyzed from the neck down and remains at a Cleveland hospital.

Kaluza, a manager at the KFC restaurant on South Avenue, was traveling south on South Avenue about 10 a.m. Monday when a blue-gray Saturn cut him off and caused an accident, said police Capt. Kenneth Centorame, chief of detectives.

Kaluza called 911 and then loaned his cell phone to the female driver of the Saturn. A man then shot Kaluza in the right side of the head and neck.

The shooter pushed Kaluza’s car a short distance into a driveway on Hilton Avenue and demanded money and got about $300, the KFC bank deposit.