Ice Zone burglarized

Ice Zone burglarized

BOARDMAN — Police started investigating a burglary at the Ice Zone, 360 McClurg Road, after employees discovered a break-in when they opened for business Friday.

The primary loss was money taken from several safes in the building, said Boardman Police Chief Patrick Berarducci.

“I’d consider it to be a professional burglary,” he said, noting the method of entrance and the disabling of the alarm system.

The Ice Zone hasn’t conducted a full inventory of property, but all the equipment seemed to be intact, Berarducci said.

Investigators will be looking to see whether the method of operation is related to any other recent burglaries in the area, the chief said.

He asked that anyone with information about the break-in call the police department at (330) 726-4144.

Gun to be tested by BCI

SALEM — A gun that may have been used in a robbery Tuesday will be sent to a state laboratory for testing.

Police had said a man put a gun on the counter while asking for money at Cheap Tobacco at 200 E. Second St. A clerk refused and said an alarm had been triggered. The would-be robber left without any money and went east.

On Thursday afternoon, a resident on East Third Street notified police that he had seen a gun in the snow.

Police Chief Robert Floor said Friday the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation will determine whether there are fingerprints on the weapon.

Police also plan to get the store’s video of the robbery.

Charged in sex with lamb

SANDY LAKE, Pa. — A man remains in the Mercer County Jail on charges he performed a sex act on a lamb, which had to be euthanized.

James Alan Stiver, age unavailable, of Sandy Lake, is jailed in lieu of $15,000 bond.

He is accused of entering a barn without permission on Sandy Lake-Polk Road between 9 and 10 p.m. Jan. 11, where he attacked the animal, said state police in Mercer.

The animal was severely injured.

He is charged with sexual intercourse with an animal, cruelty to animals and criminal trespass, police said.

South Side house fire

YOUNGSTOWN — The cause of a fire at 2711 Utilis Ave. on the South Side that started in a second-floor bedroom is under investigation, the fire department said. The two occupants were already out when firefighters arrived around 2 p.m. Thursday. The gas had been shut off, and the residents were using propane heaters.

One of the occupants told firefighters that he was using a large propane tank to fill a smaller tank when the fire started but was unsure of the ignition source, reports show. The Red Cross was called in to help the displaced occupants. Damage was set at $13,000 to the house and contents.

Title-violation charges

MERCER, Pa. — The owner of Raiti Truck Salvage on Rutledge Road in South Pymatuning Township has been charged with title violations.

State police in Mercer said Charles Bazel Raiti, 71, of Burghill, Ohio, is charged with five records violations.

Four are summary offenses. One, a third-degree misdemeanor, alleges that he failed to keep records that included the make, year and type of vehicle, from whom and when it was purchased, a vehicle identification number and date of sale or disposition of the vehicle.

Police also said Raiti did not have a license to sell vehicles, but only to salvage vehicles.

Authorities began an investigation in November after someone complained about buying a vehicle from Raiti and not getting a title or registration for it.

Neighbors group to meet

WARREN — The South West Neighborhood Association is having its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at New Freedom Missionary Baptist Church, 1590 Tod Ave., Warren. Representatives of the Mahoning Valley Crime and Violence Task Force, and a community organizer for ACTION of Youngstown will address the group about safe communities. The SWNA is a group of residents from Warren’s southwest side who meet the last Tuesday of every month to discuss issues affecting the community. For more information, call (330) 392-0404.