METRO DIGEST || Mayor seeks answers from US Bureau of Prisons

Mayor seeks some answers from US Bureau of Prisons

YOUNGSTOWN

Mayor John A. McNally has asked the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to provide a formal debriefing for him and Ohio’s Congressional delegation concerning the bureau’s reasoning for nonrenewal of its contract to house 1,400 inmates at the Corrections Corp. of America’s Northeast Ohio Correctional Center on Hubbard Road.

In his letter to Charles E. Samuels Jr., bureau director, and to Peter J. Kadzik, assistant U.S. attorney general for legislative affairs, the mayor said the city “is deeply saddened and frustrated” by this week’s news of the nonrenewal of the contract, which expires May 31.

McNally said he is concerned about potential job losses among the more than 400 workers at NEOCC, which has generated $180 million for the local economy since 2005.

Possible arson investigated

YOUNGSTOWN

Firefighters are investigating what they believe was an arson late Thursday at 2371 Mount Vernon Ave.

A man who identified himself as the occupant called 911 at 11:45 p.m., reporting smoke in the three-story wood-frame home.

Firefighters found a mattress burning in the living room, clothing burning inside an electric oven and a gasoline can in the kitchen. They took the can as evidence.

Firefighters also found a window broken and the rear door open. They estimated damage at $4,000 to the house and $700 to its contents. There were no injuries.

Man stable after gunshot wound

YOUNGSTOWN

An 80-year-old man was taken in stable condition from his residence in the 800 block of Detroit Avenue to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital with an apparent gunshot wound behind his right ear late Thursday.

Lewis Mecak, who uses a wheelchair, told police he was between his living room and kitchen when he heard two gunshots and realized he was shot.

Police found a bullet hole at the front window of Mecak’s home, but they found no shell casings and no suspects.

A neighbor reported hearing about five shots at 7:24 p.m., then hearing someone running through leaves behind Mecak’s house.

Robbery reported

YOUNGSTOWN

Two men and a woman told police they were robbed by two young men, who forced their way into a home in the 2600 block of Hunter Avenue late Thursday, and that one of the male victims suffered jaw and neck bruises from being pistol-whipped.

The home-invaders forced the victims to lie on the floor, searched their pockets, and found and took $24 at 7:57 p.m.

Before the robbers fled, one of them asked the victims: “Didn’t you get your checks yesterday?”

No suspects are in custody.

Heroin seized

WARREN

The Warren Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit seized heroin with a street value of $25,000 and other drug-related items from a house in the 1100 block of Adelaide Avenue Southeast at 10:55 a.m. Thursday after a four-month investigation.

Officers also seized $9,100 in cash, but one of the targets of the investigation was not present at the time of the raid, and no arrests were made.

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