Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Man charged with rape of girl, 9
GREEN
Goshen Police arrested a 45-year-old Calla Road man on charges he raped a 9-year-old girl last week.
Robert Seman turned himself in to police about 3 a.m. Saturday after the victim’s mother had contacted police March 10 to say Seman had been abusing her daughter for several years, a news release from the department said.
The county children services board also assisted in the investigation, and Seman’s 2-year-old child was removed from his custody. A warrant was issued for Seman on Friday, but when police went to his home about 1:20 p.m. to arrest him, he was not there.
Police were able to contact Seman by phone to make arrangements for him to turn himself in. He is in the county jail and is expected to be arraigned at 11 a.m. Wednesday in county court in Sebring.
Crash probe continues
POLAND
A trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol continues his investigation into a one-car accident in the township that sent a Lowellville woman to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown with serious injuries about 2:15 p.m. Monday.
The woman, who is in her early 50s, went off the right side of New Castle Road near state Route 289, an action that caused her car to roll over, said Tony Derenzis of the OSHP’s Canfield Post. He added her injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.
Arrested at church
YOUNGSTOWN
A woman was arrested at an East Side church about 6:35 p.m. Sunday after reports said she punched church members.
Police were called to La Iglesia De Dios Church, 1585 Himrod Ave., where a woman was fighting with several people outside the church.
Reports said witnesses told officers there was a meeting at the church with Elsa Munoz, 38, of Youngstown being a member, and Munoz got upset and left the church. A short time later people inside the church could hear fighting outside, reports said.
A woman said she was attacked outside by Munoz, and a church deacon was hit while trying to break up the fight. Reports said at least two people showed marks where they were hit, and Munoz admitted slapping someone in the face.
Munoz was arrested on a charge of assault and taken to the Mahoning County jail.
Facing charges
YOUNGSTOWN
A Mercer, Pa., man was taken to the Mahoning County jail after officers found four needles in a car he was in about 10:30 p.m. Sunday on the South Side.
Steven Johnson, 26, owned the car but was not driving when it was pulled over at East Avondale Avenue and Cottage Grove for failing to stop at a stop sign, reports said.
The driver, his brother, Todd Johnson, 27, of Grove City, Pa., said he did not have a driver’s license. Police found four needles and a spoon in the car.
Steven Johnson was arrested on the charge of possessing drug-abuse instruments. His brother was cited for driving under suspension and released.
Trustees to meet
LAKE MILTON
The Milton Township trustees meet at 6 p.m. today at Lake Milton Town Hall, 15992 Milton Ave., and will go into executive session to discuss pending/imminent court action before handling any regular business.
Lecture planned
YOUNGSTOWN
The Afrikan Village and Cultural Center of Youngstown will host a lecture with Dr. Umar Johnson on Saturday at the McGuffey Centre, 1649 Jacobs Road.
Doors open at 3:30 p.m., and Johnson will speak at 5. During his lecture, Johnson will explore mental giftedness, special education and ADHD, black male/female relationships, and the importance of integrating the ideals of Marcus Garvey into the community. An after-party will take place at Monteen’s Southern Cuisine, 3807 Belmont Ave. in Liberty. Entertainment will include the jazz of Soulidified, and Johnson will be on hand for a meet-and-greet session.
There is no admission fee at the center, but donations are welcome.
Equality Ohio session
BOARDMAN
Equality Ohio, in conjunction with the Ohio AFL-CIO, is having a session on the threat right-to-work legislation poses to Ohio’s workers Wednesday at Operating Engineers Local No. 66, 291 McClurg Road.
There will be a free pizza dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m. The program and explanation about the legislation is at 6 p.m. Equality Ohio is an advocacy organization for the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community.
Jury selection
YOUNGSTOWN
Jury selection continued Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for a man who could face the death penalty if he is convicted of murdering a woman on a North Side porch last May.
Jurors reported to the courtroom of Judge Lou D’Apolito to be selected to hear the case against 42-year-old Willie Wilks of Elm Street. He is accused of murdering 20-year-old Ororo Wilkins as she was standing on the porch of a Park Avenue home May 21, and of wounding another man. Wilkins was holding a baby when she was shot, but the baby was not injured.
Jury selection for the case is expected to take most of this week.
Fire damages house
YOUNGSTOWN
No one was injured in a fire about 4:45 p.m. Sunday in a garage that was also doubling as an apartment at 2200 Windsor Ave.
First crews on the scene found heavy smoke coming from the building, reports said. The people who were living inside managed to get out before firefighters arrived, reports said.
Reports said the fire started in the garage and spread through the roof to an addition that was built on to be used as living space. Firefighters managed to stop the flames in the building before it spread to the house, reports said. A home next door suffered some heat damage, reports said.
Collection shed
NORTH LIMA
Good Hope Lutheran Church, 12030 Market St., is sponsoring a clothing drop-off shed as a fundraiser and service to the community.
On Monday, St. Pauly Textile installed a clothing collection shed at the church for community members to use as a drop-off site for clothing.
The collected goods will be distributed throughout the United States and the world, and the local church will in turn receive four cents for every pound of clothing that is donated. The program keeps clothing out of the landfill, helps the needy, and supports the fundraising needs of Good Hope Lutheran Church.
St. Pauly is a family-owned company based in Upstate New York; they collect usable clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts, purses, linens, blankets and drapes. In 2013, more than 60 million garments were distributed to an estimated 7.5 million people all over the world through the St. Pauly program.
For information about St. Pauly, visit www.St-Pauly.com.
Chase ends in crash
YOUNGSTOWN
A man led police on a South Side chase that ended when he crashed his car into a building, tried to run away and swallowed the suspected crack in his possession, a report says.
The police report says Kenneth Carter, 28, of West Delason Avenue fled traffic lights and stop signs after an officer tried to stop him for having tinted windows.
The chase started at Market and Breaden streets and ended when Carter hit a building on West Evergreen Avenue, police said.
Carter vomited suspected crack cocaine twice, the report says.
He was taken by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Health Center. After medical clearance, he was taken to the Mahoning County jail.
He is charged with driving under suspension and drug trafficking, among other offenses.