Trio arrested for series of city robberies

YOUNGSTOWN — Police continue to investigate a series of armed business robberies, predominantly at fast food restaurants, following the arrest of one adult and two juvenile suspects.

Police arrested Joseph S. Mascarella, 19, and two 16-year-olds Saturday on West Midlothian Boulevard and said they recovered evidence linking the suspects to several robberies.

No charges against Mascarella were shown on the Youngstown Municipal Court’s electronic docket as of this morning. Detectives said they believed there was an urgent need to apprehend these suspects because they placed handguns to the heads of clerks and displayed a willingness to fire their weapons in the stores.

One victim reported hearing a click and believed the gun misfired.

The daytime robberies included Subway, 830 E. Midlothan Boulevard, Thursday afternoon; Taco Bell, 3726 Market St., Oct. 12; Family Dollar, 2224 Market St., Oct. 8; and Burger King, 15 W. Midlothian Blvd., Sept. 30.

The arrests occurred after police released a security camera image of two of the suspects in a recent South Side robbery to generate leads. As a result, they said they received several Crime Stoppers tips from the public.

Police are urging anyone with additional information to call (330) 742-8911 or Crime Stoppers at (330) 746-CLUE.