Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
Police are investigating attempted robberies in the city believed to have been committed by teens.
Police arrested Kewann Skinner, 16, of East Auburndale, Sunday in the 300 block of East Lucius. Skinner, accused of trying to rob a man at gunpoint, was taken to Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center.
According to police, a 46-year-old Dublin man was working on property he owns in the 100 block of East Florida when he noticed two juveniles sitting on the steps at a nearby house. The man said one of the juveniles pointed a gun at him and demanded money.
The homeowner told police that he and the teen, later identified as Skinner, wrestled over the gun while Skinner continued to threaten to shoot him. He said Skinner and the other teen, noticing cars riding past, eventually ran off without taking anything.
Police reports say officers responding to the call about the attempted robbery noticed two teens wearing hoodies walking in the area. When the teens noticed officers, reports say, the boys began to run.
Police chased the boys and, after an unsuccessful stun-gun attempt, apprehended Skinner a short time later. Officers did not find any weapons on the boy but did find an unloaded handgun sitting on top of a trash can near the area where the boys had been running. The second boy was not caught.
Reports say the homeowner identified Skinner as the person who attempted to rob him.
Police also are investigating another attempted robbery at a beauty-supply store in the 3400 block of Market Street.
A woman was working at the store just before 1:30 p.m. Friday when a man and woman appearing to be about 17 or 18 years old came into the store. The employee told police the man eventually pulled out a gun and she ran to the back of the store screaming for co-workers to call police.
The man and woman ran out of the store and have not been apprehended.