Police charge man with several crimes after traffic stop

YOUNGSTOWN — Police charged Mustafa Musleh, 23, of Harmon Avenue with several crimes after he allegedly ran from police on foot and told his girlfriend’s 6-year-old daughter to do the same.

Police attempted to make a traffic stop on Musleh’s vehicle at the intersection of South and Dewey avenues on the city’s South Side at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, but Musleh sped off through a parking lot, then ran from the vehicle while it was still rolling with a child inside.

As the vehicle approached a building, the 6-year-old girl opened the rear car door and ran to police officers.

Officers apprehended Musleh a short time later behind Krakusy Hall.

When officers asked the girl why she jumped out of the moving car, she said “My mom’s boyfriend told me to.”

Police found a small bag with suspected marijuana inside the car and $1,040 on Musleh.

Police charged him with child endangering, failure to comply with a police officer, drug abuse and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.