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Youngstown police arrest two on drug charges; 3-year-old child present at transaction
City cops arrest 2 on drug charges
A 3-year-old child accompanied one suspect to a potential heroin transaction.
YOUNGSTOWN — A police investigation into illegal all-terrain vehicle use ended in two arrests on illegal possession of drugs and the presence of a 3-year-old child at a potential drug transaction.
Late Saturday afternoon, police received a complaint about three people riding ATVs in Pemberton Park near Detroit Avenue. When officers arrived at the park, the three ATV riders left in an attempt to outrun officers.
According to reports, officers caught up with James Torres, 20, of Detroit Avenue, a short distance from the park. He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor failure to comply with an officer. Police found heroin in Torres’ pocket and added an additional charge of felony possession of drugs.
According to police, officers took a cell phone from Torres upon his arrest. That phone rang a half hour after it was confiscated with Michelle Cannon, 27, of Park Avenue, Struthers on the other end.
Police say Cannon, believing she was speaking to Torres, wanted directions to Detroit Avenue where she was supposed to buy heroin from Torres.
Police say Cannon told officers she wanted “boy,” a street term for heroin, and said she was $10 short of the agreed upon $80 purchase price.
Police gave Cannon directions to the Detroit Avenue home and told her to call when she was in front of the home. Cannon, according to reports, arrived at the home a short time later and was surrounded by police.
In the backseat of the 2007 Dodge Caliber station wagon driven by Cannon police found her 3-year-old child secured in a car seat.
Cannon confessed her role in the potential drug transaction telling police she has a drug problem and does enough heroin to keep from getting sick from withdrawals. Police determined that Cannon uses the illegal substance two to three times daily.
Cannon, reports said, told police she gave her number to a friend, whom she would not name, to give to Torres so that she could touch base with him to buy drugs.
Police confiscated $70 and a paper with suspected heroin residue from Cannon.
The child was turned over to the care of grandparents upon Cannon’s arrest.
jgoodwin@vindy.com