Canfield man indicted in body dragging

Authorities found the victim two blocks from a South Side McDonald’s restaurant.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The Canfield man accused of driving away after a body dislodged from under his car has been indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury.

The indictment was returned Thursday against Bryce D. Burke, 26, of Mercedes Place. He is charged with not stopping after an accident. If convicted, Burke faces between one and five years behind bars.

On Nov. 29, Andrew Culp, 22, of North Main Street, Columbiana was found in the westbound lane of Midlothian Boulevard near Euclid Boulevard and died from his injuries.

Burke had been at the McDonald’s drive-through at South Avenue and Midlothian Boulevard when another motorist told him a body was under his car, police said. A witness called 911 and told the police dispatcher a body was under the car in front of him.

By the time police arrived, the car had gone. Culp’s body was found in the roadway about two blocks from the fast-food restaurant. Burke surrendered to detectives Dec. 1.

In an unrelated case, Julius Crawford, 18, of Atkinson Avenue was indicted on a charge of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

Crawford was arrested Jan. 20 when police approached the driver of a car in which he was a passenger for a parking violation on West Marion Avenue. Police found a loaded .32-caliber handgun under Crawford’s seat and a small amount of suspected marijuana in his jacket pocket. He pleaded no contest in municipal court to the marijuana charge and was fined $50.

Crawford survived a fire a year ago that claimed six of his family. On Jan. 23, 2008, four children died in the fire at 1645 Stewart Ave., along with their mother and grandmother. Julius and his sister managed to escape.

the blaze deliberately set by 18-year-old Michael A. Davis. Davis is in prison for life.