Robbery suspects arrested

STAFF REPORT

AUSTINTOWN — The suspects in a string of township robberies are now behind bars.

Darrell L. Lowe II, 20, of Youngstown, is in Trumbull County Jail on three counts of aggravated robbery and one count of kidnapping. All four charges are felonies.

The robbery charges stem from three incidents: Feb. 18 and April 7 at Check and Go on South Raccoon Road, and April 21 at Shell Gas Station on Mahoning Avenue.

Lowe was charged with kidnapping after ordering employees of the Check and Go to the safe to retrieve money during the April 7 robbery.

Ryan L. Davis, 19, of Youngstown, was also charged with aggravated robbery in the April 21 robbery at the Shell Gas Station. He is in Trumbull County Jail.

Detective Sgt. Dan Kosco credited the apprehensions to teamwork among law enforcement departments.

“It was a combination between our department, Girard, Boardman and Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force getting together and tracking the suspects down,” Kosco said. “Girard actually had some good photos [of Lowe], which helped us out quite a bit.”

Kosco said suspects in two other robberies — one in the parking lot of the Austinwoods North nursing facility on Kirk Road and another at Vivo Metal Trading on Meridian Road — have also been apprehended.

Timothy Smith Jr., 23, of Youngstown, is charged with aggravated robbery after attacking a woman in the parking lot of Austinwoods on April 30.

James Menton, 22, of Youngstown, is charged with robbery after police said he stole nearly $700 from Vivo Metal Trading on May 4.

Both Menton and Smith Jr. are in Mahoning County Justice Center.