METRO DIGEST || Homeowner pepper-sprayed

Homeowner pepper-sprayed

WARREN

A man forced his way into a 62-year-old Northwest Boulevard man’s house at 7 p.m. Monday, firing pepper spray into the victim’s eyes and stealing his wallet and car keys.

The victim said when he answered his doorbell, a man wearing a black, hooded sweat shirt pulled up around his face sprayed him in the face.

The victim walked backward into his living room trying to find his car keys because they contained an alarm-system remote. Not finding it, he stumbled into the kitchen looking for a wall-mounted alarm box.

The suspect followed the victim into the house, spraying him a second time and pushing him away from the alarm box. The suspect then left with the victim’s wallet and the key ring.

MedStar ambulance personnel treated the victim for swollen-shut eyes from the pepper spray, pain and redness.

Animal-cruelty plea

WARREN

Shane A. Robinson, 39, of Ohio Avenue Northwest, has pleaded innocent to four misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals after the Warren Police Department and Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County found four dogs in deplorable conditions at his home.

The Animal Welfare League took the dogs into its possession during the Friday afternoon investigation.

A judge in Warren Municipal Court set Robinson’s bond at $10,000 during an arraignment hearing Monday. He returns to court at 1:30 p.m. May 14.

School board to meet

Niles

Niles Board of Education has scheduled a special meeting at 6:15 p.m. today at the administration building, 100 West St., to conduct interviews for a school board vacancy.

Bridge-repair project

negley

Work is set to begin Monday on a state Route 154 bridge-repair project at Negley in Columbiana County. Two-way traffic will be maintained with temporary traffic signals.

The Ohio Department of Transportation’s contractor for the $248,130 project is KMX Painting Inc. of Lowellville. An August completion date is expected.

Drilling to begin

NEw Castle, Pa.

Core-drilling operations on the North Street bridge in New Castle begin Monday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Traffic will be maintained through the work area, but minor delays are expected.

The work is in the final design stage and is anticipated to be done by March 29. Replacement is scheduled for 2014. For information, call 724-654-6141.