Armed robber strikes Handel’s ice cream on 422

Staff report

NILES

Police are charging Michael J. Ellenis, 22, of the 1300 block of Woodledge Drive, Austintown, with aggravated robbery after an incident at 7:08 p.m. Sunday at Handel’s ice cream shop on Route 422. He is in the city jail.

Lt. Jay Holland reported that witnesses said Ellenis walked up to the window, brandished a semi-automatic gun and took a small amount of cash. At the time, there were eight to 10 customers in the area, and witnesses got the suspect’s license number. No one was injured.

Police issued an alert, and Austintown Police Department stopped Ellenis’ vehicle about 45 minutes later in the vicinity of Interstate 80.