Bond set in child rape

Bond set in child rape

WARREN

A judge set bond at $250,000 Monday for David I. Griffin, 47, of North Mecca Street, Cortland, after Griffin was indicted on four counts of rape, including one that could result in a life prison sentence.

Griffin is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a 12-year-old girl by force or threat of force in 2007 and committing other offenses against her as recently as 2013, according to his indictment.

Griffin pleaded not guilty in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court before Judge Peter Kontos.

The offenses are alleged to have taken place in Cortland and Warren. In addition to rape, Griffin faces three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, four counts of sexual battery and one count of gross sexual imposition.

Domestic-violence case

WARREN

Deanna Rulong, 44, of Dickey Avenue Northwest, was released from the Trumbull County jail Monday morning after posting $1,000 bond, charged with domestic violence after her boyfriend suffered injuries Thanksgiving Day.

Police said Rulong and her boyfriend, 54, also of the Dickey address, argued because Rulong was taking the car to work, which meant he would have to “sit at home all day,” he told police.

The boyfriend jumped on the hood of the car, and Rulong backed up the car and started driving it on Dickey. Rulong stopped the car and told him to get off and she was going to call police, but he didn’t get off, police said.

She drove on Taylor Street Northwest going about 25 miles per hour, and he said he was sliding off, police said. Rulong “slammed on the brakes and he fell off, landing on his hands and knees,” police said.

Police arrested her a short time later. The boyfriend had abrasions on his knees, a cut on his hand and complained of back pain but refused medical treatment.

Joining college summit

Youngstown

Eastern Gateway Community College President Laura Meeks will join President Barack Obama, the first lady and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House College Opportunity Summit on Thursday.

The summit will bring together colleges and universities, business leaders, non-profits and others committed to supporting more college opportunities for students across the country.

This year’s summit will focus on building sustainable collaborations in communities with strong K-12 and higher education partnerships to encourage college going, and supporting colleges to work together to dramatically improve persistence and increase college completion, especially for first-generation, low-income and under-represented students.

Jailed after robbery

WARREN

Mitchell A. King, 27, of Housel Craft Road in Bristolville and Packard Street Northwest in Warren, is in the Trumbull County jail in lieu of $125,000 bond in a Thanksgiving-night robbery at Sheetz on Elm Road.

A judge entered a not-guilty plea to felony robbery for King during his arraignment Monday in Warren Municipal Court.

Warren police said King took the purse from a woman sitting in her car at the gas station at 11:30 p.m.

The woman struggled to keep her purse, she said, until King put his hand in his jacket pocket as if he had a weapon and said, “You don’t want to do this.” The man also tried to choke her, she said.

The woman followed King to the pay laundry next door and was able to get her purse back before King fled.

Probing abandonment

BOARDMAN

Township police were sent to the Holiday Inn, 7410 South Ave., on Sunday to investigate a case in which a minor reportedly was abandoned by her mother.

According to a police report, the 16-year-old girl told police her mother entered her bedroom at their Columbus residence Saturday night and told her, “You’re leaving.”

The girl said her mother then directed her to get into a car with an unidentified male, who then drove her to Youngstown, dropped her off at a Walmart and told her to get out of the vehicle. He then left her there alone, she said.

The victim then found a ride to the Boardman area, and made her way to the hotel.

She told police her mother is a drug user and had previously told her that she was going to drop her off and hoped that no one would find her.

The victim was released to the care of a youth shelter in Youngstown.

Investigating assault

BOARDMAN

Township police are investigating a case of assault in which a doctor reportedly injured a patient during an examination.

According to a police report filed last week, a Hubbard woman visited a doctor at 1280 Boardman-Canfield Road in September.

The victim told police that the doctor asked her to walk on her toes, walk on her heels and bend over to touch her toes during the examination. When she could not reach her toes, she said the suspect became angry and pushed her into a toe-touching position, resulting in extensive bruising on her arm.

The victim sought medical attention in October from her family doctor, who advised her to file a police report.

She provided police with photographs of the original bruising, and police noticed signs of bruising that were still on her arm, according to the report.

Pilates Basics classes

YOUNGSTOWN

Mill Creek MetroParks will offer Pilates Basics at Fellows Riverside Gardens, 123 McKinley Ave., Wednesday and Dec. 10 and 17 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Angela Lubonovich will lead the classes, which will include toning, shaping, core strength, alignment and breathing.

Bring a mat and water.

No registration is required. The cost is $10 per class.

Resigned seat on board

YOUNGSTOWN

Artis Gillam Sr. has resigned his seat on the Youngstown City Board of Health effective Monday.

Gillam, who was appointed to the health board by former Youngstown Mayor Charles Sammarone, said he is starting a group home for girls age 10-17 at the corner of McGuffey Road and Dryden Avenue on the city’s East Side.

He said he resigned because “it has come to my attention that serving on the health board is a conflict of services I am trying to render for young people in need.” Gillam’s term expires in 2016.

Funeral costs sought

YOUNGSTOWN

Friends and family of Keith Lamont Rodgers, 52, one of two men killed in a double hit-and-run crash early Thanksgiving Day, are asking the community to help with his funeral expenses.

Also killed when the car in which they were passengers collided with the rear of a semi-truck and burst into flames in the 800 block of Lansdowne Boulvard at 1:30 a.m. was David Kent Williams, 51. The driver of the car was hospitalized for treatment of severe burns.

The family does not have insurance or money to pay the $4,300 cost of the funeral, said Rose Jordan, Rodgers’ aunt.

Rodgers’ sister, Martinnette Walker, said her brother loved everybody and everybody loved him. She said he leaves four children and seven grandchildren.

People who want to help with Rodgers’ funeral expenses should send a check or money order to the F.D. Mason Funeral Home, 511 W. Rayen Ave., Youngstown 44502.

Cleanup after accident

HUBBARD

HazMat crews were called to clean up fuel after a tractor- trailer accident in Trumbull County.

According to The Vindictor’s broadcast partner 21 WFMJ-TV, about 12:30 p.m. Monday, a truck carrying construction equipment ran off Interstate 80 eastbound by the Hubbard exit.

Special equipment was used to keep the fuel from contaminating nearby water.

The driver walked away without any injuries.

He told the Ohio State Highway Patrol that he took his eyes off the road and drifted off I-80.