METRO DIGEST || Police search for gray van in break-ins, TV thefts

Police search for van

YOUNGSTOWN

Police are searching for a gray van that was used in two aggravated burglaries Wednesday afternoon on the South Side.

The van was sighted at a home in the 1600 block of Shawnee Trail just after 1 p.m. after an 82-year-old man said someone tried to enter his home but failed to get inside. About 3:45 p.m., the van also was sighted at a home in the first block of Willis Avenue, where a mother and a daughter said someone broke into their home while they were upstairs, and a neighbor saw someone carrying a 50-inch television outside from the home.

Police also reported burglaries in the 4100 block of Howard Street on and the first block of Lauderdale on the North Side Wednesday afternoon. In the Howard Street case, someone kicked in a back door, while at the other home, someone broke the window on a back door to get inside. Reports said 50-inch televisions also were taken from those homes.

Home burglary

CAMPBELL

A Gladstone Avenue resident reported a burglary occurred at her home between 4:30 and 9 p.m. Wednesday. The victim reported a 50-inch TV had been taken and a window was broken.

Police said they saw footprints in the snow behind the woman’s home, but could not find a suspect.

IRS phone scam

HUBBARD

A city resident told police Wednesday she received a call from a man claiming she owed money to the IRS.

The man gave a number to call back. Police called the number and warned the man they know he’s a fraud and not to call anyone else.

The IRS does not call anyone; they contact people by mail, and the phone number has been reported to the state attorney general’s office, a police report says.

DAV distributes food

AUSTINTOWN

Youngstown Air Reserve Base Community Council recently donated $10,000 to the Disabled American Veterans to help sustain the DAV’s “Feeding Needy Veterans” program.

On Thursday, DAV Chapter 2 gave boxes of food to veterans and their families at the Austintown Senior Center Building, 110 Westchester Drive.

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley also provided food boxes filled with non-perishable items such as cereal and pasta for the Mobile Pantry organized by the Disabled American Veterans.

The mission of the DAV is to empower veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity, said Leo Connelly, DAV commander.

For information on how to help the DAV efforts, contact Connelly at 330-261-5975.

Disability rights

YOUNGSTOWN

The Ohio Waiver Network, joined by the group Disability Rights Ohio, will have a town-hall discussion on their concerns about segregation in Ohio’s developmental disabilities system at 6 p.m. Monday at St. Mary’s Assumption Hall, 356 S. Belle Vista Ave.

Individuals with disabilities, families and their service providers are encouraged to attend the session. Officials from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities are scheduled to appear.

The Ohio Waiver Network and Disability Rights Ohio both advocate for the human, civil and legal rights of people with disabilities in Ohio.

Committee meeting

LORDSTOWN

Lordstown Negotiations Committee will meet in council chambers, 1455 Salt Springs Road SW, at 4 p.m. today and will adjourn immediately into executive session.

Run for Jamie set

POLAND

The Run for Jamie 5K race/walk and kids run will take place Nov. 29 at Holy Family Parish, 2729 Center Road.

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. The half-mile kids run starts at 9:30 a.m., and the 5K run/walk starts at 9:45 a.m.

The kids run is free for kids 10 and under. The 5K is $17, and $20 the day of the race.

All funds will support the Jamie Serich Memorial Scholarship.

All runners and walkers will receive a blueberry doughnut and cup of apple cider from White House Fruit Farm. To sign up, visit www.runforjamie.org.

Theft by deception

BOARDMAN

Township police arrested a Youngstown man on a warrant Tuesday on a charge of theft by deception after police said he pretended to work for an asphalt company and scammed people out of money.

A victim reported to police that William Darkadakis, 34, approached him in September and claimed to be an employee for a local asphalt company. The victim said Darkadakis asked to borrow cash to purchase a new part for a machine for a job he was doing on the street.

After taking money out of an ATM for Darkadakis, the victim realized his wallet was gone and called a manager at the asphalt company, who said Darkadakis had been fired weeks ago.

Road to be closed

MESOPOTAMIA

Parkman Mesopotamia Road between state Route 87 and Parks West Road will be closed Monday through Wednesday for culvert replacement.

The recommended detour route is east on state Route 87, south on Girdle Road and west on Parks West Road.

12-year-old arrested

BOARDMAN

Township police arrested a 12-year-old boy Wednesday on a charge of domestic violence after police said he punched his mother and threatened to kill her at their Colleen Drive residence.

According to the police report, the boy, who is a Canfield Middle School student, became angry when his mother told him to go to his room.

He then began punching his mother and told her, “I’m going to pound you into the ground and kill you.”

The mother told police she would like to press charges against him. The boy was taken to the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center.

Sentenced to 4 years

WARREN

Antwaun Warfield, 27, of Dana Street Northeast, will spend four years in prison for his part in an armed robbery that injured a 30-year-old city man July 30.

Warfield pleaded guilty this week in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to two counts of attempted aggravated burglary, one count of felonious assault and one count of cocaine possession.

The victim told police he was sweeping the kitchen in his apartment when he opened the kitchen door and was struck in the head by something.

The man’s girlfriend said one suspect hit the man in the head with a gun and another suspect pointed a gun at her.

They took the man’s wallet and the cellphones belonging to both victims and fled, police said.

O’Grady will run

WARREN

Joe O’Grady, who retired in January as a sergeant with the Warren Police Department, formally announced his candidacy for Trumbull County Sheriff Thursday in the Log Cabin on Courthouse Square.

O’Grady, 57, worked as a Warren police officer 28 years and is well known as the founder of David Grohl Alley in Warren’s downtown.

O’Grady said his ability to rally people around an idea such as the alley is a skill that will help him improve cooperation between the sheriff’s office and police departments “from Kinsman to Newton Township.”

The primary for the sheriff’s race will take place in spring 2016. Several others also have publicly expressed interest in the position. Sheriff Thomas Altiere told The Vindicator in February 2012 that this would be his last term in office.