METRO DIGEST || 'We are going to rob you'

'We are going to rob you'

WARREN

A resident of 1220 Robert Ave. NW reported an attempted burglary at her home at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Individuals began beating on her door and screaming “We are going to break in, rob you and take everything you own.” She didn’t say anything, and the individuals left. The woman said she could see two males standing outside of her door holding guns when she looked through the peep hole.

Child sex offense

AUSTINTOWN

Township police are investigating a reported sex offense involving a young boy Thursday morning.

Police arrested a 14-year-old male for an unspecified sex offense involving a 6-year-old boy on a Leonard Kirtz School bus close to New and Idaho roads that morning.

Austintown schools Superintendent Vincent Colaluca called the event “unfortunate” and said there was “an inappropriate action.” He did not elaborate. The case is still under investigation, but Colaluca said the bus driver “intervened very quickly,” and district employees “handled things.”

A news release from the Mahoning County Educational Service Center Friday night said all the students on the bus attended special-needs schools. “We handled the situation in accordance with school policy and procedure,” Colaluca said.

Inmate suicide attempt

WARREN

A 28-year-old man who has been charged with numerous burglaries and other offenses this year was taken to an area hospital Thursday night after he reportedly tried to commit suicide in the Trumbull County Jail. The man, who has addresses in Cortland, Niles and Bristolville, used the linens he was given to hang himself, said Dan Lester, assistant warden. The man was not on suicide watch because there was no indication he was suicidal, Lester said. The man was conscious and talking Friday and is expected to recover, Lester said.

4th branding arrest

BOARDMAN

A fourth suspect was arrested in the branding of a teenager last week in Struthers.

According to The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, 21 WFMJ-TV, U.S. Marshals arrested Andrew Kocak, 33, at his Boardman home. Police said he is the person who repeatedly branded a 17-year-old male in Struthers last month. Police also allege he threatened the victim. According to online jail records, he was charged with felony intimidation and remained in jail Friday night.

Laurie Lyden, another suspect in the case and a secretary with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, has been released on bond. Lyden, 46, was indicted Sept. 4 by a Mahoning County grand jury along with Brian Pryjma, 38, and Ronald Bier, 35. Information was not available on Bier and Pryjma Friday night. The branding happened outside a Wilson Street home Aug. 15 when the victim was branded twice with a chewing tobacco lid and once with a throwing star. He received third-degree burns and had to have skin-graft surgery.

Roads closing for race

YOUNGSTOWN

These roads in Mill Creek Park will be closed to pedestrians, cyclists and vehicular traffic from 6 a.m. to noon Sunday for the Green Cathedral Half Marathon/5K/Kids Fun Run: Bears Den, Lily Pond, West, West Glacier, Robinson Hill, East Glacier, Memorial Hill, East Cohasset, East Park, Valley, Old Mill, East Newport, West Newport, Chestnut Hill, High, West Cohasset, Cross and New Cross drives, and Kreider’s Entrance.

Accused of theft

YOUNGSTOWN

A police report says Darius D. Beasley, 22, of Youngstown, who worked in the loss-prevention portion of Family Dollar, 2224 Market St., is accused of refunding purchases straight to cash and taking merchandise totaling about $639. Store cameras caught him Aug. 13 and 16, and Sept. 3, the report said. He was arrested on one misdemeanor count of theft and will appear in Youngstown Municipal Court Monday.

Cops probe robbery

WARREN

Police are investigating the 6 p.m. robbery of $1,000 from Payday Loans, 1602 Parkman Road NW Thursday. Police said they searched for the person who employees said robbed the business, a tall white male wearing dark clothing. Police were unable to locate anyone in the area, they said. No further information was provided.

Streets closed

WARREN

These city streets will be affected during two events today: Mahoning Avenue at High Street, Mahoning from West Market Street to High, and West Market from Mahoning to North Park Avenue will be closed from 1 p.m. to midnight for the Harley in the Park event; North Park from North Street Southwest to Grsiwold Street Northeast will be closed from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. for an Ohio Inn event.

Facing assault charges

WARREN

Ranyiah J. Miller, 18, of Ogden Avenue Northwest, was arraigned Friday in Warren Municipal Court on two felony counts of aggravated vehicular assault in a Sunday-morning incident at the Boogie-Down Club. Miller is accused of driving in to two people at the entrance to the club, causing serious injuries to them in the 4:59 a.m. incident. Miller said she drove into the people because of gunfire coming from two cars in front of her near the West Market Street club. Bond was set at $25,000. She also was charged earlier with drunken driving and driving alone on a temporary permit.

Her 19-year-old sister, also of Ogden Avenue Northwest, suffered a gunshot wound to the foot, police said.

Skunk had rabies

LISBON

The Columbiana County Health Department reported Friday that a skunk found in Lisbon tested positive for rabies. The skunk, found with the assistance of the Lisbon Veterinary Clinic, was sent to the Ohio Department of Health for testing. Wes Vins, county health commissioner, said precautions that people can take to prevent rabies include avoiding contact with wild, sick or injured animals and animals they don’t know. People bitten or scratched by a wild animal or a pet should wash all wounds and contact areas thoroughly with soap and water and contact a physician immediately. Try to keep the animal confined, but don’t risk further injury if the animal is dangerous, and get the name and address of the animal’s owner, Vins said.

Opening service

CANFIELD

Grace Family Church, 4478 Boardman-Canfield Road, (U.S. Route 224), will host its grand opening service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The church is housed in the former, now renovated, Harley-Davidson Motorcycle building. Grace Family Church was started as a nondenominational church in October 2012. The Rev. Jonathan D. Moore and his wife, Paulette, are the founding and lead pastors. Pastor J. Moore ministered for 11 years as lead pastor of Highway Tabernacle Church and as president of Youngstown Christian School. He also has served as a missionary and as an evangelist. The grand opening will feature video messages from pastors in the Valley; a sermon by Pastor Paulette Moore; contemporary music; and child care.

Crash injures man

YOUNGSTOWN

A man is in critical condition in St. Elizabeth Health Center after a car collided with his motorcycle Friday afternoon. A police spokesman said the accident occurred in front of Sparkle Market on Meridian Road at about 1:15 p.m., but investigators were still trying to determine how it happened.

Pipes repaired

AUSTINTOWN

Repairs were made this week after a metal storm sewer pipe rusted and broke about three months ago, causing a 4-foot wide, 20-foot long sinkhole on New Road, just east of Raccoon Road. The project was completed by Insight Pipe Contracting of Harmony, Pa. Patrick Ginnetti, Mahoning County engineer, wrote in an email Friday that the road damage will be repaired completely by the end of next week. Barrels will surround the hole on the eastbound driving lane until roadwork is complete.

The repairs cost about $80,000 with 75 percent of funding coming from the Ohio Public Works Commission’s emergency funding. The other 25 percent was paid for by the county engineer’s office.

Ballet classes offered

YOUNGSTOWN

Liz Rubino Studios at the Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, is offering ballet classes for ages 7 and older Sunday, Sept. 21, Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Participants will learn the fundamentals of ballet, including the principles of alignment, body awareness, carriage and line. The cost is $75 for members; $90 for nonmembers. To register, contact the bursar’s office at 330-746-3250, ext. 195. For information, contact Rubino at 330-746-3250, ext. 187, or email her at lrubino@jccyoungstown.org.