Arrest in 2 robberies

Arrest in 2 robberies

Austintown

James E. Gray, 35, of Bears Den Road, Youngstown, was arrested Friday, charged in two robberies in the township this week. Gray is charged with robbing the First Place Bank in Cornersburg on Thursday morning. No weapon was seen in that robbery. He’s also charged with aggravated robbery and kidnapping in the Sunday robbery of the BP on state Route 46 at Kirk Road.

In that case, Gray is accused of going behind the store’s counter and forcing the clerk to fill plastic bags with money.

Det. Sgt. Kathy Dina said police tracked Gray to downtown Youngstown near the WRTA bus station Friday. When he saw police, he fled.

Police found him hiding under a car in a Youngstown State University parking deck and arrested him. He’s also charged with fleeing and eluding.

S. Side man beaten

YOUNGSTOWN

Police are trying to determine who beat and robbed a South Side man early Friday.

According to police reports, the 36-year-old man was sitting outside a house on Glenaven Avenue at about 1 a.m. when five or six males wearing ski masks held him at gunpoint and beat him. The attackers took the man’s wallet then left the area in a maroon car. The wallet contained $200, a Social Security card and an identification card.

OVI checkpoint

Canfield

The Mahoning County Operating a Vehicle Impaired Task Force will have a sobriety checkpoint in Mahoning County today to deter and intercept impaired drivers. Officers will conduct a roadside check of drivers for alcohol and drug impairment. Also, saturation patrols will be conducted over the weekend.

Support in operating the sobriety checkpoint and saturation patrols will be provided by the Mahoning County OVI Task Force, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Event postponed

YOUNGSTOWN

The “Let’s Bury the Violence” summer tour 2012 that was set for 6 p.m. today at F.D. Mason Funeral Home, 511 W. Rayen Ave., has been postponed. Organizers say they will announce a new date.

Kids’ reading camp

EAST PALESTINE

A community reading camp for children entering kindergarten to fourth grade will be at the East Palestine City Park Community Center, 31 Park Drive, from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. The program called “Reading Can Take You Anywhere!” is offered by East Palestine Elementary and PTO, and will consist of reading, activities, crafts, prizes, and more.

Children who participate in the camp will also receive credit for the East Palestine Memorial Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. Students who are in fifth grade or older are welcome to participate in this program as youth volunteers.

Registration forms are available at East Palestine Memorial Public Library, 309 N. Market St. Forms will also be available on the first day of the program at the community center. Registration begins on the first day of the program at 12:30 p.m. For information, call 330-207-1808.

Wound center opens

BOARDMAN

Humility of Mary Health Partners had a blessing ceremony Friday afternoon to mark the official grand opening of St. Elizabeth Boardman Wound Care Center’s new office at 7010 South Ave., Suite 6.

The center specializes in providing comprehensive care for chronic, nonhealing wounds and is open Wednesdays and Fridays. HMHP also operates wound-care centers at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown and St. Joseph Health Center in Warren

MORE DIGEST, A5