Officers hunt for armed suspect

Officers hunt for armed suspect

NEW MIDDLETOWN

One man remained at large and another was arrested when village police came to investigate a report of fireworks going off in the Camelot Trailer Park on Main Street late Thursday evening.

Police Chief Vincent D’Egidio said the men accused of setting off fireworks fled from police when they arrived at the trailer park to question them.

Brandon Bennett of Liberty fled from the back door of a trailer, stole a pickup truck and crashed the truck in Poland Township, according to the chief. Police found Bennett and took him to the Mahoning County jail about 11 p.m. Thursday.

The second suspect, identified as Carl Fisher, fled on foot to a wooded area near the trailer park. D’Egidio said he was told Fisher was “armed and [would] shoot police.” D’Egidio said he sent 30 police, police dogs and a helicopter to the wooded area to find the second suspect, who remained at large as of press time.

Purse snatched

WARREN

A 27-year-old Niles woman reported that a man stole her purse from her while she was at the Sunoco gas station, 805 W. Market St., Wednesday night.

The woman said the suspect was pumping gas for her at 8:55 p.m. when he asked her to look at a broken gas cap.

When she approached him, the man grabbed her purse and tried to get it away from her, but the woman refused to let go. The man punched her in the head and threatened to shoot her, but still she fought him.

Eventually the man got the purse loose and got into the driver’s seat of the car but he was unable to start the car and ran away.

The victim had no obvious signs of injury. A gas station employee said the incident was captured on store surveillance video.

Facing drug charges

YOUNGSTOWN

Police arrested Jeanne George, 50, of Struthers on charges of possessing drugs a little after 4 p.m. Thursday at the intersections of South and LaClede avenues.

A police report said officers conducted a traffic stop and smelled marijuana. George, driver of the stopped vehicle, admitted to possessing one ounce of suspected marijuana in three separate bags in her front console. Police recovered the suspected marijuana and $545 cash. George has a court date set for 9 a.m. Dec. 17 in Youngstown Municipal Court.

Coat distribution

YOUNGSTOWN

The Salvation Army Mahoning County, in partnership with Rotary Clubs of District 6650, North East Ohio Ford Dealers, Cumulus Media Youngstown, and Operation Warm, are gearing up for the largest distribution of new winter coats to needy children in Mahoning County this holiday.

Nearly $26,000 in funding, made possible by the aforementioned organizations and businesses, made possible the distribution of 1,400 new winter coats that will be distributed to pre-registered needy children for free from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Salvation Army, 1501 Glenwood Ave. Additional winter coats will be distributed to parents who did not register their children on a first come, first served basis after 2 p.m., said Major Elijah Kahn of The Salvation Army. For information, call 330-270-5999.

Pet event for holiday

VIENNA

The Have a HART Pet store, located in the main entrance of the Animal Welfare League Shelter, 812 Youngstown-Kingsville Road SE, will host its first Holiday Extravaganza on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

The event will include the opportunity for guests to have their pets’ or childrens’ photos taken with Santa for a minimum donation of $5.

The funds raised will benefit the day-to-day operations at the shelter.

Burglary reported

YOUNGSTOWN

A Tangent Street resident reported a burglary at his home about 5 p.m. Thursday. The resident reported he left his South Side home at 7:30 a.m. with all the doors locked. He said his rear door was open when he returned at 5 p.m. He reported a 52-inch flat-screen TV and laptop were missing.

Robotics tournament

FIRST LEGO League Regional Qualifying Robotics tournaments are coming to the Mahoning Valley.

The FIRST LEGO Northeast Ohio FIRST Robotics Alliance Warren Delphi E.L.I.T.E. Regional will take place from noon to 5:45 p.m. Saturday at Warren G. Harding High School, 860 Elm Road NE.

The FLL NEOFRA Girard High School RoboCats Regional will take place from noon to 5:45 p.m. Dec. 13 at Girard High School, 1244 Shannon Road.

Both events are open to the public. Parking is free, and concessions are available.

Top performers at both events will advance to the Austintown Falco Tech FLL District Tournament at Austintown Middle School on Jan. 10 to compete for spots at the Ohio FLL State Championship in February.

Juvenile charged with abusing kitten

YOUNGSTOWN

A kitten was duct-taped and tossed from a second-story window Wednesday in the city, according to a report by The Vindicator’s broadcasting partner, 21 WFMJ-TV.

Chester is now in the hands of Animal Charity and is doing OK. According to a police report, a 17-year-old male duct-taped the kitten’s paws and face.

Then the teenager threw the cat against a neighbor’s house, roughly 50 feet away, from a second-story window. “The kid who had did this, he had no remorse whatsoever. He thought it was funny that he did it. He just said he didn’t like the cat, so that’s why he did it,” said Heather Tsarnas, humane agent.

The juvenile has been charged with animal cruelty and abandoning an animal. Humane agents said the kitten should be available for adoption in about five days.