Two arrested for North Side robbery

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police arrested two men Thursday afternoon after another man claimed he was robbed when he refused to buy heroin on the North Side.

Reports said officers spotted 19-year-old Christopher Taylor of West Dewey Avenue and 18-year-old Kevin Stoffer of Kendis Circle walking at Park Avenue and Covington Street about 5:30 p.m. as they responded to an address in the 600 block of Belmont Avenue, where a man wanted to make a robbery report.

Reports said Taylor and Stoffer matched the description of the men who robbed a 20-year-old man of $13 in cash and his cellphone.

The victim told officers two men approached him and asked him if he wanted to buy heroin, reports said. The victim said when he declined, one of them pulled a gun and took his cash and phone.

The victim was driven to where police had detained Taylor and Stoffer and identified them as the men who robbed him, reports said. Reports said both were searched and police found cash and a cellphone that matched the one taken from the victim.

Officers also backtracked the steps of Taylor and Stoffer and found an air pistol lying in the snow near the sidewalk.

Both were arrested on charges of aggravated robbery. Reports also said Taylor had a warrant through municipal court for assault. Both were taken to the Mahoning County jail.