Austintown man arrested for stealing more than $600

AUSTINTOWN — A Youngstown man was arrested for stealing more than $600 from a township business.

James E. Menton, 22, of Delason Avenue, was charged with robbery after he took $688 in cash from Vivo Metal Trading.

The owner of the Meridian Road business said Menton came into his office at about 3:15 p.m. Monday to be paid for $3 worth of scrap metal cans. As he was writing a receipt, the suspect said, “Give me your money.”

Menton then grabbed the cash from the victim’s desk and punched him in the back before running into the parking lot.

The owner told police he pursued the suspect on foot East through the parking lot toward North Meridian. He said Menton then got into a red Dodge Caravan driven by an unknown female and fled South on Meridian.

A store employee said when he saw the chase, he got into his vehicle and pursued the suspect until the caravan pulled into the parking lot of Steel City. He told police Menton got out of the van and ran South, and the van fled in an unknown direction.

Both men caught up to the suspect and were able to detain him on the ground until Austintown police arrived.

Menton told police, “Yeah, I stole the money. I need to eat.” He was taken into custody, and the money in question was found in the suspect’s pants pocket during a search.

Menton is schedule for arraignment this morning at Mahoning County Court in Austintown.