Warren man nabs suspect in theft

By Ed Runyan

Three robberies of similar description were reported Saturday and Sunday in Southeast Warren.

WARREN — Ryan McCleary, 29, of Raymond Street Northwest isn’t afraid to take matters into his own hands if someone tries to steal from him.

On Sunday, he demonstrated that by catching Michael C. Walker, 23, of Parkman Road. Walker was reportedly stealing McCleary’s mountain bike from a garage behind McCleary’s house.

McCleary, who says he moved to Warren from Portage County nine months ago because of the affordability of the housing here, said he knows Walker and did a little investigative work of his own after several items turned up missing from his house Saturday.

By Sunday morning, an accomplice of Walker’s had returned several of the stolen items, McCleary said.

McCleary called police to report the burglary, but Warren police said there was nothing anyone could do until a detective reported for work Monday.

But Walker returned to McCleary’s home at 10:30 p.m. Sunday and got caught in the act, McCleary said Monday afternoon.

Walker handed over the mountain bike, but he pulled a knife on McCleary while trying to get away, McCleary said. After a struggle, McCleary said he disarmed Walker.

Nick Timko, a Trumbull County deputy sheriff working security at the nearby Stonegate Apartments, heard the commotion and assisted McCleary until Warren police arrived to arrest Walker.

On Monday, Walker pleaded innocent in Warren Muncipal Court to felonious assault and breaking and entering. Judge Thomas Gysegem set bond at $100,000. Walker returns to court at 10:15 a.m. Dec. 1.

McCleary said it’s hard to understand why there wasn’t something police could do to help him Sunday. “It’s insane out here,” he said.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old resident of the 1900 block of West Market Street says he also tried handle his own problems when a man drove past him Sunday afternoon and fired a gun several times in his direction.

That person called police, made out a report, and said he was “going to find the shooter” himself, a Warren police report said.

An hour later, he called police again, saying he’d located the man who had shot at him earlier, this time on Palmyra Road near Risher Road.

The second confrontation led to the victim being shot at again, he said, but no injuries were reported.

Police also investigated an armed robbery at Euphoria, 2775 Youngstown Road S.E., at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Two men walked in wearing bandanas over their faces and dark, oversized winter jackets. One of them pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded money, getting about $40.

Two men of a similar description robbed a 26-year-old Niles man washing his BMW not far away, at 2317 Youngstown Road Southeast, at 3 p.m. Sunday.

That victim said one of the men put a gun to his head, took his wallet and car keys and drove off in his car.

An 18-year-old man also reported that he was robbed and assaulted at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday along Niles Road near Van Wye Street Southeast.

That person said a man ran up, pointed a gun at his chest and demanded money. A second man stood by. As the victim tried to pull out his wallet, the first man hit him in the head with the gun, took his wallet and ran. The victim suffered a facial bruise and a scratch.

runyan@vindy.com