US Marshals search for infected woman

POLAND — U.S. Marshals are searching for a MRSA-infected burglary suspect after she escaped from a hospital Thursday.

Poland Village Police took Dawna Martin and Jason Sitnic, 28, of Youngstown, into custody Wednesday after getting a call about a burglary on Island Drive.

Village Police Chief Russell Beatty Jr. said the Mahoning County jail would not take Martin after she told officers she is infected with MRSA.

According to the website WebMD, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body.

Police then transported Martin to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, where she stayed overnight.

Beatty said Martin was interviewed Thursday by several police departments regarding other burglary cases.

“They were definitely involved in other burglaries — a lot of other burglaries,” he said of the two suspects.

Beatty said Martin walked out of the hospital sometime after she was interviewed, and has not yet been found. Sitnic is in the Mahoning County jail.