METRO DIGEST || Grave theft charges

Grave theft charges

WARREN

Two Masury men accused in the theft of a $36,000 brass statue and grave marker from the Mahoning Valley Memorial Park in Youngstown have been indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury.

Michael A. Cryster, 27, of West Ohio Street, and Richard R. Couturiaux, 30, of Ulp Street, were indicted on identical charges of felony receiving stolen property and vandalism and two misdemeanor counts of desecration.

Police say the men took the 4-foot statue and grave marker, and Couturiaux scrapped portions of the statue for $25.50 at Girard Recycling Center.

Both will be arraigned at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Neighbors indicted

WARREN

A man and woman accused of stabbing and robbing two men in the Arhaven Mobile Home Park in Braceville Township March 14 have been indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury.

Todd M. Smith, 35, and Gina C. Little, 18, who both live on West Gate Drive in the park, were indicted on one count each of aggravated burglary and two counts each of aggravated robbery and felonious assault.

Smith’s charges also carry a specification of being a repeat violent offender.

If convicted, each faces the possibility of more than 30 years in prison.

Police said Smith and Little went to a neighbor’s trailer with masks on and demanded money and drugs. One of the victims was stabbed seven times, suffering serious injuries. The other victim was treated at the hospital for less serious injuries.

Smith and Little will be arraigned at 11 a.m. Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Plane crash probe

JOHNSTON

A single-engine aircraft crashed at Urban Airport at 2960 Greenville Road at 11:32 a.m. Wednesday, damaging the 2001 Vans RV-8 aircraft and causing minor injuries to the pilot, Robin D. Whitt, 56, of Loves Park, Ill.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the aircraft overturned while landing because the landing gear sunk into the wet, grassy landing zone. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

ATM gun threat

WARREN

Denzel D. Searcy, 18, of New Castle, Pa., and Crandall Avenue in Youngstown, has been indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury on two counts of aggravated robbery for the March 7 robbery of a woman and her 6-year-old child at an ATM in Liberty Township and a Feb. 27 robbery.

Information on the Feb. 27 robbery was not available.

Liberty police said they caught Searcy and Edthaniel Tarver, 17, of Campbell March 7.

Liberty Police Chief Rich Tisone said the two men had just robbed a woman making a withdrawal from an ATM along Belmont with her small child in the back seat. Two guns were pointed at the woman as the thieves demanded money.

Searcy is also facing a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest in Girard Municipal Court. Searcy will be arraigned at 11 a.m. Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Papa John’s robbery

WARREN

A Trumbull County grand jury has indicted Robert J. Mealy, 22, of Sunnydale Drive, Vienna, on one count of aggravated robbery in the March 18 robbery of Papa John’s restaurant, 1976 Elm Road NE in Howland Township.

If convicted, Mealy could get 11 years in prison.

Police said a robber ordered the lone restaurant employee to the back of the store, threatened to kill him and took about $400 from the cash register. When police served a search warrant at Mealy’s home, they found items involved in the robbery, Howland police said.