Man arrested in pizza-delivery robbery

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

Police said the man told other people he committed the crime.

YOUNGSTOWN — Police arrested a city man in the robbery of a pizza- delivery man — the second such robbery in the city in two days.

Police charged Gregory Direnzo, 23, of Richland Avenue, with aggravated robbery, and he is in Mahoning County jail. He appeared for video arraignment Thursday before Judge Elizabeth Kobly of Youngstown Municipal Court.

Prosecutors told the judge Direnzo has a history of not appearing in court for previous proceedings. Judge Kobly set bond at $50,000. He is due back in court at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 1.

According to police, a Brier Hill Pizza delivery man was taking an order to the 2800 block of Newbern Circle about 10 p.m. Wednesday. A man, believed to be Direnzo, came out of the house and told the delivery person to wait just a moment because his brother ordered the food.

The delivery person told police the man came out of the house a second time, pointed a gun at him and demanded all his possessions. The thief was given a wallet containing $20, a cell phone and money belonging to the pizza company then ran back into the house.

The driver went a few blocks away and flagged down a Struthers police officer.

The driver, accompanied by police, went back to the house. Officers found the wallet with no money inside and the cell phone both sitting on the front porch, but no one answered the door.

While police were still standing in front of the house, a man living at the residence returned to the home. He told police he had given his neighbor “Greg” a ride to the West Side.

The man told police that during the ride, the neighbor showed him a gun and money and admitted robbing the pizza-delivery man., The man told police he knew “Greg” by a different last name.

Police received another call at 11:40 p.m. from a woman in the 400 block of Richland, who told officers that Direnzo had come to her home saying he had a gun and admitting the robbery of the delivery driver. He was later said to be outside waving a gun around.

Police were taking the report on Richland when Direnzo walked from behind some houses and was taken into custody.

Police are also investigating the armed robbery of a Pizza Hut delivery driver Tuesday on the South Side. No arrest have been made in that robbery.

jgoodwin@vindy.com