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Probe: No wrongdoing by police in chain-snatching
YOUNGSTOWN
An internal-affairs investigation at the Youngstown Police Department has found there was no wrongdoing on the part of a police officer present when an $800 gold chain was snatched from the neck of a 14-year-old boy.
The crime took place immediately after a series of basketball games at the Covelli Centre in December. Tennille Reeder, 34, of Youngstown, said her son went to the facility to watch the games and was outside the center waiting for a ride when the theft took place.
Reeder said the boy wanted to dress up for the event and left the house wearing a gold chain with a Jesus charm valued at $800.
Reeder told police her son was standing outside the building after the games waiting for a ride when he was attacked by six young black men. She said her son was hit in the back of his head, and the gold chain was ripped from his neck.
According to Reeder, a Youngstown police officer was in close proximity but did nothing as her son was jumped by the group of thieves and the chain was stolen. She filed a complaint against the officer, and it has been investigated by the department’s internal-affairs division.
City Detective Jose Morales said the internal- affairs investigation into the situation showed the officer did nothing wrong. He said the officer broke up what he thought was a fight and was told about the stolen chain only after the alleged thieves had left the area.
“There is insufficient evidence at this time to show that there was any dereliction of duty on the part of the officer,” Morales said.
Morales did say the officer could have taken the juvenile to the police department or the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center to call his parents after learning the full story. He said the officer was counseled about not taking that initiative.
Three men have been arrested and are in the Mahoning County jail facing multiple charges associated with the reported chain snatching. All three have been bound over to the Mahoning County grand jury, but no indictments have been issued yet against them.