Man charged with burglary at former church building

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A police dog found a man who broke into a North Side church building early Thursday morning.

Police were called to the former St. Andrewes African Methodist Episcopal Church building at 117 E. Rayen Ave. about 12:20 a.m., reports said.

Reports said officer Jessica Shields and her dog, Hector, arrived along with officers George Anderson and Jeffrey Savnik after someone called 911 and said there was a person at the building with a flashlight taking out windows.

Reports said Anderson and Savnik went inside through the front door, which was pried open, and found a pry bar, copper wire, a hammer and a propane tank.

Reports said Shields went in and announced that she was sending in the dog and got no response. The dog searched the first floor and found no one.

Shields then had the dog go to the basement and announced again the dog was searching and again got no response. The dog then searched before he found a man later identified as Robert Hanni, 28.

Reports said the dog jumped on a table and tried to apprehend Hanni and Hanni yelled and asked officers to call off the dog.

Police found a flashlight and other tools where Hanni was hiding, reports said.

Reports said Hanni was taken to the Mahoning County jail on charges of possessing criminal tools and breaking and entering.