Purse stolen at gas station

Photo

James E. Blackmon

Purse stolen at gas station

BOARDMAN — An 89-year-old Indianola Road woman said a man snatched her purse at a Market Street gas station.

The woman told police she arrived at the Shell Station about 11 a.m. Sunday and got out of her car when a man grabbed her purse from her arm. She and the thief pulled the purse back and forth between them when the strap broke and he ran, with the purse, across Indianola and south behind a video store.

Two people ran after him but lost sight of the robber.

Police found the purse and the victim discovered $25, a credit card and personal papers were missing.

Township firefighters and an ambulance crew bandaged a scratch on the woman’s arm, but she didn’t want to be taken to a hospital.

Man charged with burglary

AUSTINTOWN— A Struthers man was arrested in a burglary and violation of a protection order.

The victim said she was visiting friends in the apartment above hers on Raccoon Road, about 9:30 p.m. Friday, when she heard the screen door on her balcony opening.

Gary Bish Jr., 27, was taken into custody after township police found him hiding inside the victim’s bedroom, which had been ransacked.

Earlier in the day, police said they were called to the victim’s Raccoon Road apartment because Bish was pounding on her door, demanding she return a ring that belonged to him. Bish was placed in the Mahoning County Jail.

Man’s jersey, wallet stolen

YOUNGSTOWN — James Blackmon, 51, of the 300 block of Florida Avenue, was charged with aggravated robbery in the theft of an NFL jersey.

Police said the victim was walking on West Rayen Avenue near Fifth Avenue when two men got out of a vehicle. One pulled a gun and said he wanted the No. 25 Reggie Bush NFL jersey the victim was wearing and his wallet. The victim complied; the men drove away. The victim went to a local eatery and called police. With a description of the vehicle, police found it. After a short chase, the occupants abandoned the vehicle, and police apprehended Blackmon. The other man was not found.

None injured in house fire

CAMPBELL — No one was injured by a fire that did about $45,000 damage to a home at 259 Struthers-Liberty Road. Capt. Gene Skelley said the fire department responded to the call at about 5 p.m. Monday. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Skelley said. Coitsville and Poland fire departments assisted.