Couple faces charges

Couple faces charges

BOARDMAN

A couple faces drug-related charges after police raided their township apartment, where they say they found drugs within reach of an infant child.

Charles George Jr., 23, of Forest Park Drive, was arrested Monday on a felony charge of possession of drugs and misdemeanor charges of drug paraphernalia and child endangering. His girlfriend, Anasha West, 18, was arrested on misdemeanor charges of permitting drug abuse and child endangering.

The township’s narcotics enforcement unit found suspected marijuana, more than $1,000 in cash, a handgun, suboxone films, pills and drug paraphernalia during the search of the couple’s apartment.

Police said West’s infant child was present during the incident and that they found loose pills where the child could easily obtain them.

West and George both posted bond.

They are set to appear in Mahoning County Area Court here Thursday.

Stalking reported

BOARDMAN

A 30-year-old Poland woman reported to township police Monday that an unidentified male is stalking her.

She told police that while at a coffee shop Dec. 10, a man approached her and asked if she was single. The man then reportedly pressed her for her phone number, followed her to her vehicle and insisted that she go out with him, which she declined to do.

About a month later, the woman reported she received flowers at her work she discovered were from the same man. When she texted the number included with the flowers, the man continued to insist that they go out, she said.

The victim told police that she does not know how the man obtained information about her or where she works.

Annual pro-life event

NEW CASTLE, PA.

The New Castle Chapter of People Concerned for the Unborn Child is sponsoring a pro-life event, the 29th Annual “Light a Candle for Life” prayer vigil, at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Kennedy Square, also known as the diamond.

Participants will be invited to kneel, pray and assist in lighting 1,000 luminaria candles in memory of 58 million babies who were never born.

A program and prayers will follow at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the Family Worship Center, 23 W. Washington St. Prayers will be led by Rev. Chad Stoecker, pastor at First Assembly of God Church, and Rev. Father Michael Ackerman, of the Catholic Community of New Castle.

The program theme is “Black Lives Matter— Every Life Matters.” Speaker will be Rev. David Young, pastor at Prevailing Word World Outreach Center.

Released from jail

NILES

Scott E. Rockenfelder Jr., 25, of Royal Mall Drive, was released from the Trumbull County jail Tuesday after posting $10,000 bond, charged with committing burglary at a home in the 600 block of Wyoming Avenue at 8:44 p.m. Monday.

The resident of the home reported that he came home and noticed the back door had been forced open, then heard someone running up his steps, out of the garage and up the street.

The victim said he recognized the man as “Scotty,” and the man yelled, “I see you,” and “I’ll be back.”

An officer responding to the call saw a man on Third Street nearby and called to him, but the man ran off. The officer took the man, later identified as Rockenfelder, into custody, and the victim identified Rockenfelder as the man who ran out of his house.

Nothing was missing from the house.

The victim said he sells shoes, and Rockenfelder had bought shoes from him in the past but not paid everything he owed.

Man shot in the legs

WARREN

A 31-year-old Columbus man was treated at ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital for several bullet wounds to his legs at 1 a.m. Tuesday. The man said he was “just ridin” in Warren, and his vehicle got stuck in the snow on Adelaide Avenue Southeast. A man walked up and shot at him in the legs. A female passer-by gave him a ride to the hospital. An officer checked Adelaide Avenue and couldn’t find any evidence of a car getting stuck in the snow.

Burglary thwarted

WARREN

A 19-year-old Columbus man thwarted an attempted aggravated burglary at a house on Haymaker Street Northwest at 1:09 a.m. Tuesday by firing a handgun at one of three masked males who forced their way inside.

The 22-year-old resident of the home told police the three masked men each had a gun and entered the house with a female friend of hers. One of the men pushed her down, pointed a gun at her head and demanded money. One of the other males went upstairs looking for money. However, the 19-year-old male was hiding in the bedroom and fired his handgun two times. The intruders fled. Nothing was taken.

Fire suspects freed

YOUNGSTOWN

The two suspects accused of intentionally setting fire to a historic home in Beaver township in October are free without bond after an arraignment hearing Tuesday, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, 21 WFMJ-TV, reported.

Alexis Little, 20, of Youngstown and Brian McKinney, 20, of Boardman appeared before Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Shirley Christian for arraignment on arson charges. The pair was indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury after investigators said they set fire to the 134-year-old mansion on Lipply Road that was built by Harvey Firestone, founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.

Judge Christian ordered that Little and McKinney be freed on their own recognizance.

The case has been assigned to Judge Lou D’Apolito, according to WFMJ.

Warren boil advisory

WARREN

Because of a waterline break, a boil advisory has been issued for water customers on these Warren Township streets — state Route 5, Diehl South, Manhatten, Riverside, Fisher, Park and Woodview Circle.

The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

For additional information, call the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer’s Office at 330-675-2775.

Threatening message found at MCCTC

canfield

A student found a threatening message inside Mahoning County Career and Technical Center Tuesday afternoon.

Scott Weaver, assistant Canfield Police chief, wouldn’t say where the threat was found or divulge its contents. Vindicator broadcast partner 21 WFMJ TV, however, reported that it was written in a boy’s bathroom stall and that it was a nonspecific threat of violence.

“We don’t believe it to be credible, but we take these types of things seriously,” Weaver said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Classes will be in session today with extra patrols at the school the next couple of days to reassure students, staff and parents that the school provides a safe, secure learning environment, the assistant chief said.

911 systems down

youngstown

The 911 systems in both Mahoning and Columbiana counties were down Tuesday evening, affecting all of the police departments using the system.

Callers were urged to use the 10-digit telephone numbers for the respective departments.

The problem started about 6:30 p.m. and the cause hadn’t been identified as of press time.

The number for Mahoning County is 330-740-2370 and for Columbiana County it’s 330-424-7255.