Police arrest teenager for several armed robberies

YOUNGSTOWN — A 16-year-old boy was arrested inside a vacant South Side house, where he was taking shelter, and charged with two counts of aggravated robbery with firearm specifications for armed robberies several hours earlier.

A concerned citizen told police the boy, who was a suspect in numerous recent aggravated robberies in the neighborhood, was living in a house at 30 E. Boston Ave., which has been vacant for two weeks, but still had electric service.

Looking in from outside the house, police saw lights and a TV on in the house and three stove burners lit, and they called the fire department to the scene because they smelled a strong natural gas odor.

After nobody responded to their knocks, police said they forced their way into the house out of concern for the welfare of any occupants and found clothing matching the robbery victims’ description of what the robber was wearing and a .22-caliber revolver with two live rounds in it.

Police found and arrested the boy, who gave a Cedar Lane address, at 11:05 p.m. Monday, hiding in the attic, wearing only an oversized coat, sweatpants, a T-shirt and socks. The boy, who was wanted on a warrant for felonious assault, was taken to the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center after his arrest.

For the complete story, see Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com