Youngstown man jailed after home break-in

Staff report

LIBERTY

A Youngstown man is in Trumbull County Jail after police found him with jewelry believed stolen from a house in the 2400 block of Fifth Avenue.

Police were called to the area after receiving a call about a man trying to flag down cars about 11:45 p.m. Saturday. Police stopped a car driven by a 41-year-old Garfield Heights man because a passenger matched the description of the man trying to flag down cars.

The driver told police he picked up Derrick D. Slocum, 45, of Brooklyn Street, Youngstown, because Slocum said he was stranded and needed a ride. The Garfield Heights man said he offered Slocum a ride because it was Christmas.

Police said they found a suspected crack pipe along with gold and silver jewelry inside the liner of Slocum’s coat. Police also found a jewelry box with other jewelry, checks and bank- deposit slips.

Police went to the address listed on the checks and found a break-in and the house ransacked. They matched Slocum’s shoe prints to those around the house. Under a shrub, police also found a pillowcase filled with jewelry and other items. In all, police recovered jewelry valued between $10,000 and $15,000.

Police took Slocum into custody and charged him with having drug paraphernalia, receiving stolen property and attempted escape. While in the police car, he was kicking the interior, including the doors, they said.

Police contacted the people whose house was ransacked; they identified the items.

Slocum appeared Monday in Girard Municipal Court. Bond of $35,000 was set on the charges of receiving stolen property and attempted escape and $15,000 bond on the drug charge, 10 percent cash or surety. A preliminary hearing on the charges will be at 9 a.m. Jan. 5.