Man faces multiple charges

The Youngstown man also is accused of swallowing several pills that were in his possession.

staff report

NEW SPRINGFIELD — A 23-year-old Youngstown man accused of climbing out of a cruiser and trying to flee police faces multiple charges.

A Springfield Township police officer stopped a car shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday on Western Reserve Road.

The car’s passenger, Michael N. Childs, 23, of Avondale Avenue, was making movements toward the vehicle’s floor, police said, and the officer detected an odor of alcohol. The officer asked Childs to exit the car and, when patting him down, found suspected crack cocaine in Childs’ pant leg.

The officer handcuffed Childs and placed him in a cruiser. While the officer was conducting an inventory of the vehicle, Childs managed to roll down the cruiser window and climb out, running across the road where another officer caught him, said Chief Matthew R. Mohn.

Childs also is accused of swallowing several pills that were in his possession and then vomiting. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center before being transported to the Mahoning County jail.

Childs is charged with trafficking in drugs, escape and tampering with evidence, all felonies.

In an unrelated case, an officer responded about 6:15 p.m. Friday to a traffic crash on Western Reserve. The driver of one of the cars was James R. Best, 29, of Springfield Road. Officers found a plastic bag containing suspected heroin on Best and a used hypodermic needle in the vehicle. He was charged with heroin possession and possession of drug abuse instruments.