Man charged with theft of painkillers

Man charged with theft of painkillers

BOARDMAN

Township police arrested a 27-year-old Cortland man in the theft of drugs Monday.

Victor Puente was arrested on the fourth-degree felony warrant in Girard.

Bazetta Township police had custody of him, and he then was transferred to Boardman to answer the warrant.

He was taken to the Mahoning County jail. Puente is accused of stealing a woman’s purse and driving off with it May 3. Inside the purse were painkiller pills, according to a police report.

Pavlik trial postponed

AUSTINTOWN

The impaired-driving trial for Kelly Pavlik, the former boxing champion, which was set to begin today, has been postponed.

Pavlik, 31, of Canfield, was scheduled for trial on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while impaired in Mahoning County Area Court here, but a motion made by his attorney Monday postponed the trial. According to Mahoning County Court’s CourtView website, Pavlik now is scheduled for a suppression hearing at 11:30 a.m. June 18.

Pavlik turned down a plea deal March 17, and he pleaded not guilty Dec. 10, 2013, to OVI refusal. A trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol cited Pavlik for OVI at 12:25 a.m. Dec. 9 at the Youngstown-Niles exit on the Ohio Turnpike.

Bond set at $500,000 for suspect in murder

YOUNGSTOWN

A magistrate in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court set bond at $500,000 for a man charged with murder in a March 29 shooting on the city’s South Side.

Magistrate Dominic J. DeLaurentis Jr. set the bond at the Tuesday arraignment of Matthew S. Cochrane, 25, of West Hylda Avenue. Cochrane pleaded innocent to the murder of Dajhon Neely, 20, of Liberty, and to felonious assault on two other people, who were with Neely in the car in which he was fatally shot.

Police said the shooting on South Avenue near Interstate 680, in which Cochrane purportedly fired from a motor vehicle, stemmed from an argument concerning a woman that occurred via text messages between Cochrane and Neely. DeLaurentis appointed Atty. Anthony Meranto as defense counsel. The case is assigned to Judge Maureen A. Sweeney.

Drug-related charges

Niles

Authorities executed a search warrant Tuesday leading to drug-trafficking charges against a man.

According to a news release, officials of the Trumbull-Ashtabula Group, a law-enforcement task force, used a search warrant at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment at 6 E. Woodland Ave. Authorities arrested Tyrell A. Williamson, 36, on a charge of aggravated drug trafficking in a school zone, a third-degree felony. His apartment is near Niles McKinley High School.

Williamson also had an active warrant through Warren Municipal Court for fines and costs associated with a previous drug conviction.

Man refused to sign citation, police say

youngstown

Andre Edwards, 36, of Youngstown was taken to Mahoning County jail about 8:20 p.m. Monday after he refused to sign a citation for walking in the street, reports said.

Officers spotted Edwards at Erie and East Judson avenues walking in the street when a sidewalk was available and questioned him. He was given the citation and told to sign, saying that his signature meant that he agreed to show up to court.

Reports said Edwards told officers his signature meant he was admitting guilt, but when officers told him that was not the case, he still refused to sign. When he was threatened with jail if he did not sign, he placed his hands behind his back and told officers, “Do what you have to do,” reports said.

Jail records show he was released late Tuesday morning. Court records do not show a disposition for his citation.

Warren house fire

Warren

A two-story house fire was quickly put out Tuesday afternoon.

Warren fire officials said they arrived at 4:22 p.m. at 827 Comstock St. and saw smoke showing from the rear. Firefighters said the fire was quickly extinguished, and no one was injured. Fire officials said the home was deemed a total loss. The fire is under investigation.

2 drug arrests

CAMPBELL

City police arrested two people on multiple drug charges Monday during a traffic stop that produced three marijuana cigarettes and a plastic bag filled with spice (synthetic cannabis) and marijuana, along with a metal grinder, glass marijuana-smoking pipe and prescription bottle all containing marijuana residue.

Alexandrea J. Hanna, 19, of East Canton, and Aaron E. Hernandez, 32, of Penhale Avenue in Campbell are charged with possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Hanna also was cited for not having a front license plate on her car.

Police stopped Hanna at 4:40 p.m. Monday on 12th Street and noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from the car. A search of the car produced the suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia, reports say.

Trailer reported stolen

BOARDMAN

Boardman police are investigating an apparent theft of a U-Haul trailer with more than $33,000 in merchandise and currency in it.

The theft was reported to police early Tuesday after the victim discovered it missing from where it was on Shields Road.

The trailer was rented by the victim from Rental Corral on Market Street. The trailer was last seen at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday and was reported missing at 4:44 a.m.

Inside it, there is $5,000, four gold necklaces, a gold watch, a growing system, two mattresses, two 55-inch televisions, a refrigerator and other items, according to a police report.

Trustees to meet

LIBERTY

The Liberty Township trustees will have a special meeting at 11 a.m. today at the administration building, 1315 Church Hill-Hubbard Road.

Valley Counseling open house set today

WARREN

In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, Valley Counseling Services is having an open house from 10 a.m. to noon today at the Adult Office, 150 E. Market St.

An update will be provided on all services and agency programs. Jody Klase is the new executive director.