Metro digest || False alarm at Rite Aid

False alarm at Rite Aid

liberty

Police charged Darlene Mihalko, 36, of the 700 block of Trumbull Avenue, Girard, with inducing panic and making a false alarm about 9:30 a.m. Monday in Rite Aid, 2704 Belmont Ave.

Police responded to a call about a robbery at the store but found Mihalko had yelled about the store being robbed to get a clerk to come to the front of the store.

She was in Girard Municipal Court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to both charges. She is free on personal recognizance bond.

Police seeking driver

BOARDMAN

Police are still looking for the driver of a gray and red truck that sideswiped another vehicle in an apparent road- rage incident.

A 26-year-old man told police he was the victim of road rage about 9:30 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Mathews and Sheridan roads. Reports stated the man was driving on Thalia Avenue in Youngstown and that the truck stopped in the middle of the road without a turn signal, at which the man said he yelled, “Turn signal,” to the truck’s driver. The man said the truck driver pulled in front of him at a later stop sign, exited the vehicle and punched the passenger side.

The man drove away, and the truck driver followed the car, passing it on Mathews Road and scraping the driver’s side fender, police said.

Stranger in minivan

liberty

A 67-year-old man told police he had stopped at Days Inn, 1615 E. Liberty St., to get information about rooms about 10 p.m. Sunday.

After he left, a man appeared in the back seat of his minivan and told the victim to take him to a hospital. The victim refused, stopped his vehicle and then jumped out and told the other man to exit the van. The man complied and fled on foot.

Police saw a surveillance tape and have a photo of the man, who was wearing a dark blue shirt described as a “mechanic’s” with a business logo on it and dark jacket and pants.

Christmas in the Village

McDONALD

The 29th annual Christmas in the Village festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27, ending at 9 p.m. near the Ramsay Pavilion across from Village Hall.

The tree-lighting ceremony will be followed by Santa’s arrival, after which there will be free hayrides and caroling to village residents who are unable to attend the festivities.

Children will have many activities to enjoy, including a visit with Santa, making reindeer food, coloring, crafts and face-painting.

Refreshments will be provided from 7 to 9 p.m., and the bonfire will be lit.

All activities are free and sponsored by the McDonald Lions, donations from the community and support of McDonald village representatives.

Insurance agreement

NEW CASTLE, Pa.

Lawrence County commissioners extended their agreement for two years Tuesday with United Concordia, a Harrisburg company that provides dental insurance for county employees. Commissioner Steve Craig said there will be no increase in the rates to be charged the county.

Craig also announced that any county resident interested in serving on the Lawrence County Housing Authority Board send a letter of intent to the commissioners’ office at the courthouse and include a Social Security number so a background check can be done.

Indecent-assault charge

new castle, Pa.

A West Middlesex man is charged with aggravated indecent assault in a case involving a girl who’s now 14.

William E. Cameron Jr., 36, of Mercer West Middlesex Road, was arraigned before District Justice Scott McGrath on Tuesday and released on $25,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday.

He is accused of assaulting the girl while he lived at her residence at a mobile-home park on Stacy Lane in Mahoning Township.

The abuse is alleged to have occurred from June 2004 to December 2006, said Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle.