43
Top 5 fugitive Sitnic faces slew of charges following Boardman chase
BOARDMAN
A 27-year-old Youngstown man was arraigned Tuesday after his arrest when he was recognized as a fugitive listed in The Vindicator’s “Top 5 Most Wanted” section.
Jason Sitnic was wanted by U.S. Marshals on a burglary warrant from the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office and a probation violation out of Franklin County.
A Walmart loss-prevention officer recognized Sitnic about 6:15 p.m. Friday from a previous shoplifting case and The Vindicator’s “Top 5,” which he and other employees checked online before calling Boardman police, according to records.
A nearby Boardman police officer came to the store, spoke to loss prevention and waited for Sitnic to exit. Upon Sitnic’s leaving, the officer asked for his name, and Sitnic dropped his purchase to flee, police said.
The officer caught him by the sweat shirt and the two struggled. Sitnic wriggled out of one of his sweat shirts and ran, and the officer used a Taser on him, police said.
When police interviewed Sitnic, they found someone else’s stolen credit card that Sitnic is accused of using to buy a $500 gift card, reports state.
In addition to the warrants, Sitnic is charged with obstructing official business, receiving stolen property and misuse of a credit card, all felonies. He also is charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest.
Sitnic’s bond was set at $10,000, and he is due back in Mahoning County Area Court in Boardman on Thursday.
Sitnic was listed in The Vindicator’s “Top 5” on Jan. 14 and Monday, and that exposure can help law enforcement, said Boardman police Chief Jack Nichols.
“Those types of things are great,” he said.
Nichols said Sitnic was released from prison in July. Sitnic served four years after a burglary and attempted-burglary conviction, according to online records from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
The “Top 5” is published every Monday.