Metro digest || Homeless man arrested on N. Side

Homeless man arrested on N. Side

YOUNGSTOWN

The homeless man who was assaulted last Thursday by a group of boys on the South Side has been arrested this week. Thomas Patrick Brodie, 58, was arrested for criminal trespassing Monday. According to reports, officers were called to the McDonald’s on Fifth Avenue around 8:30 a.m. because Brodie was yelling, swearing and refusing to leave the business.

Brodie had been given official warnings after similar incidents were reported Oct. 13 and 21, police said.

The police report describes Brodie’s behavior as “outrageous,” saying he was screaming, refusing to sit in the cruiser and was seen spitting at an officer.

Police Chief Jimmy Hughes told The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, WFMJ, that Brodie has a history of aggressive behavior and is not cooperative in identifying who attacked him last week.

In fact, Hughes told WFMJ one of the teenagers questioned about the beating says a rock was thrown at Brodie but that it was in self-defense.

That conflicts with last week’s account of the incident by a witness, who said several youths in the Idora neighborhood were “throwing rocks, kicking [Brodie] and just picking on him.”

The witness went on to say Brodie is known in the neighborhood and “doesn’t bother the neighborhood kids” and sometimes dances for them.

Free bridal gowns

BOARDMAN

Treasured Moments is taking part Friday in Brides Across America, a nonprofit organization that provides free wedding dresses to military brides. To qualify, brides must be engaged and planning a wedding; deployed or will be deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan; or have a fianc on active duty in either Iraq or Afghanistan. Treasured Moments, 80 Boardman-Poland Road, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there is a limited number of gowns available.

Charter schools

columbus

Three Mahoning Valley charter schools will be recognized for academic improvement by the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools today at the annual state conference. Life Skills of Trumbull County in Warren, Life Skills Center of Youngstown and Youngstown Community School will receive 2010 School Improvement Awards from OAPCS.

Suspect surrenders

NEW SPRINGFIELD

A 28-year-old township man surrendered to police Wednesday for reportedly taking more than $300 from a Dollar General store. Aaron Hartman is charged with one count of theft. The money was taken from the New Springfield Dollar General store on Monday. Hartman told police he has no knowledge of a Sunday robbery at a New Middletown Dollar General.

Probe continues

CANFIELD

The Ohio State Highway Patrol continues investigating a fatal car crash that killed a 40-year-old Boardman woman. Troopers say Melissa Brammer was driving her Chevrolet HHR southbound on state Route 11, just past U.S. Route 224, when her vehicle went off the right side of the road into a tree line and then rolled onto its roof. The accident happened around 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, and its cause has not been determined, the patrol said.

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