METRO DIGEST || Pedestrian hit in Boardman

Pedestrian hit

BOARDMAN

A pedestrian was treated for minor injuries after she was hit by a car on U.S. Route 224. No charges have been filed against the man who became distracted while driving, went left of center and struck her in the leg around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. She had been walking against the flow of traffic and was hit in front of Uncle Nick’s Greek Fried Chicken at 640 Boardman-Canfield Road.

KFC closes

YOUNGSTOWN

The KFC on 2705 South Ave. has closed. KFC spokesman Rick Maynard on Wednesday confirmed the franchise agreement was terminated, but he did not say why. The building was boarded up Wednesday.

According to previous reports, the Youngstown location was one of 89 to have its franchise rights terminated.

Councilman John R. Swierz, D-7th, said he hadn’t heard the restaurant was closing until he drove by it late Wednesday afternoon. The restaurant is in his ward.

Joseph Kaluza was the former manager of the restaurant. Kaluza was shot in March 2008 as he left the store to make a bank deposit. The shooting left him a quadriplegic.

The closing happened two years to the day after KFC sponsored Joseph Kaluza Day, when all sales were donated to the Joseph Kaluza Fund.

Auditor pleads

CORTLAND

David Griffing, Warren auditor, pleaded innocent Wednesday in Trumbull County’s Central District Court to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was released after posting a $1,000 personal-recognizance bond, which means he didn’t have to pay anything. His next hearing date has not been set. Griffing was charged with DUI on state Route 46 in Bazetta Township Saturday night after his Jeep was observed weaving and crossing the center lane. His blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.19, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Boy assaulted

BOARDMAN

A man told police Tuesday that his 12-year-old son was assaulted at a picnic. Police said the boy was with his father at a Bev Road union hall Saturday afternoon. Reports state that the boy was duct-taped to a pole on site by two men, and after the boy was freed, he was locked in an equipment cage by the same two men.

Homemade bomb

BOARDMAN

Police are investigating an apparent homemade bomb detonation at a local medical facility. Officers arrived at Doctors Pain Clinic, 1011 Boardman-Canfield Road, around 8 a.m. Tuesday when an employee reported the discovery of a drain-cleaner bomb in the south parking lot, according to reports. Police found the remains of a glass bottle and charred debris and determined the device was set off between 4 p.m. Monday and 7:25 a.m. Tuesday.

Subway robbed

YOUNGSTOWN

Police are looking for the man who walked into Subway restaurant on Midlothian Boulevard and stuck a gun in an employee’s face, demanding money. According to police reports, the young man was wearing a hooded jacket, sunglasses and blue jeans and walked into the restaurant at 8:18 p.m. Tuesday. The thief ultimately fled the store with $91.