North Side burglary brings 2 arrests

Police said they nabbed the suspect and a second man 15 minutes after the burglary.

YOUNGSTOWN — Police said a North Side resident surprised a man breaking into his home, prompting the intruder and a second man outside the home to flee.

The victim told police he was inside his house in the 1300 block of Ohio Street around 5 p.m. Saturday when he heard someone trying to open the doors and then walk around the house.

The resident said he went to his kitchen and heard someone kick the kitchen door two or three times.

The door swung open, and he saw a black man in his 20s with a full beard and bushy hair standing in the doorway, the resident said. The intruder wore dark clothing and was carrying a black backpack, the victim said.

The intruder turned and ran when he spotted the resident, who added that he saw a second black man wearing a Titans football jersey and also carrying a black backpack run off with the first man headed east through backyards toward Elm Street.

Police aid they spotted two men fitting those descriptions about 15 minutes later walking on Wick Avenue near Linden Avenue and stopped them.

The Ohio Street resident was brought to the scene and positively identified Bryan Thomas, 23, of West Marion Avenue, as the intruder, police said, adding that he was unable to positively identify the other man as the second person who ran away from his home.

Thomas was arrested on a charge of aggravated burglary and taken to the Mahoning County jail to await arraignment this morning.

Police said they discovered that the second man, Ryan Berry, 31, of Crandall Avenue, had an outstanding Mahoning County warrant for his arrest on a violation of probation in a license- forfeiture case.

He was lodged in the county jail on the warrant and also faced arraignment today.

gwin@vindy.com