Two charged with theft caught in pile of scrap; one gets away

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

One of two men caught by police Friday morning in a Poland Avenue scrapyard was on bond awaiting disposition of a theft ring case he is a part of.

Alvin Tucker, 28, of Euclid Avenue and Justin Kennedy, 26, of Weston Avenue were both arraigned before Magistrate Anthony Sertick on charges of breaking and entering and possessing criminal tools.

Kennedy is in the Mahoning County jail on $20,000 bond. Tucker is in the jail on $100,000 bond.

Police were called to Allied Erecting and Dismantling, 2100 Poland Ave., about 2:30 a.m. after witnesses said three men were inside.

Officers formed a perimeter, then four officers went in. Tucker and Kennedy were found hiding in a pile of scrap, reports said. The third person ran away toward Center Street, and police were unable to catch him.

Assistant City Prosecutor Kathy Thompson asked for a high bond on Tucker, saying he is facing a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity in common pleas court, for which he was out on bond, and has 11 previous failure-to-appear warrants on his record.

Tucker is one of 12 people who were indicted earlier this year for taking part in a multicounty theft ring. Prosecutors and police said the members of the ring stole classic cars and landscaping equipment from locations in several Northeast Ohio counties, including Trumbull, Cuyahoga, Stark, Summit and Portage.

Prosecutors said the planning for the thefts took place in Youngstown, and all of the stolen goods were taken back to Youngstown. Tucker’s case still is pending.