Metro Digest || Federal indictment

Federal indictment

YOUNGSTOWN

A federal grand jury in Cleveland has indicted a Poland man on three counts of income-tax evasion and four counts of making false claims for federal income-tax refunds, the U.S. attorney said.

The indictment alleges Paul G. Churlik failed to file federal income-tax returns for 2004-06 and caused his employer not to withhold federal income taxes from his wages during those years by giving his employer a false IRS W-4 form.

During those years, Churlik had combined taxable income of $294,345, on which he owed $30,576 that he failed to report or pay to the IRS, the indictment says.

The indictment also alleges Churlik falsely claimed refunds for 2006-09, with the four false claims totaling $42,432.

The case was investigated by the IRS criminal investigation division.

Drunken driving

BOARDMAN

Police said a drunken driver caused minor damage to a township police cruiser before being arrested.

Police charged Michael McKee, 32, of Youngstown with operating a vehicle while intoxicated Wednesday.

McKee’s blood-alcohol content was 0.150, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08. McKee was scheduled to appear in Mahoning County Area Court here Thursday afternoon.

The officer who arrested McKee pulled him over after he drove his silver Honda through a Verizon Wireless parking lot and up onto a curb while trying to turn onto U.S. Route 224. McKee struck the officer’s cruiser when McKee drove through the grass and onto 224.

McKee told officers he had four beers and a margarita his friend offered him that “he couldn’t resist” before leaving a township restaurant. He told officers he drove over the curb because he thought the lot exit was there and had reached down to check his cellphone.

Derby registration

CORTLAND

Registrations are being accepted for the Greater Youngstown Area Soap Box Derby scheduled for June 18 on West Main Street.

Boys and girls age 8-17 from Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana counties are eligible to participate.

The event is divided into three divisions: stock, super stock and masters. Champions from each division will represent the area at the 74th All-American Soap Box Derby Championships on July 23 in Akron.

Registration forms are available at www.GYASBD.com or by calling 330-717-8661 or 330-793-7192.

Signs stolen

STRUTHERS

Police investigated an apparent case of politically motivated hi-jinks. Police said Brian J. Pryjma, a candidate for city council in the 4th Ward, reported Tuesday that two of his political signs were stolen from the yard at his Wilson Street home sometime the night before.

A police report says an officer had to go back to Pryjma’s house at 11 p.m. Tuesday because someone had put six campaign signs for his opponent, Robert Carcelli III, throughout his yard.

Pryjma told police he didn’t see who did it, and he would return the signs to Carcelli’s campaign.