METRO DIGEST || Boardman checkbook fraud

Checkbook fraud

BOARDMAN

Township police are investigating a case of theft by deception and identity fraud after a woman reported that someone made unauthorized transactions totaling nearly $3,000 from her bank account. The victim told police when she received her bank statement Jan. 16, she noticed about 12 transactions listed she had not made. The transactions total $2,928. A bank manager reportedly told the victim that two people who are unknown to the victim wrote checks from her account. The victim said she is not missing any checks and does not know how the suspects could have her personal information. The transactions were made in Georgia, the victim reported.

Eastern Gateway board

YOUNGSTOWN

Gov. John Kasich appointed Christine H. Dennison of Canfield to the Eastern Gateway Community College Board of Trustees. Her term started Thursday and ends Oct. 16, 2018. The governor also reappointed Sister Patricia McNicholas of Youngstown to a term on the board that started Friday and ends Oct. 16, 2019.

Serafino pleads guilty

WARREN

Charles P. Serafino, 58, of Hadley Avenue in Liberty pleaded guilty Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to obstructing official business, a felony. He will be sentenced after the Trumbull County Adult Probation Department conducts a presentence investigation.

The charge stems from a May traffic stop in Liberty in which he fled to his home and twice slammed a door on a police officer’s hand.

Serafino was the object of an assassination attempt in 1995 in the Hubbard home he shared with his mother, Ann R. Serafino. His mother was killed, and he was shot in the face but survived. Jason Getsy was executed in 2009 for his role in the crime.

Surrounded with trash

CAMPBELL

David Wilson of 200 Bright Ave was arrested on a misdemeanor charge for city code violations Friday afternoon.

Police inspected Wilson’s property after the city received numerous complaints from residents in the area about its condition. Wilson had received multiple warnings from the city dating back to last March. According to the police report, the property was surrounded with mounds of trash and piles of junk in the side areas and front and backyards. There also were numerous dead raccoons stacked up near the front steps of the property.

Living with Wilson was his girlfriend and a 10-year-old girl of whom he has custody. Wilson is being held in Campbell City Jail on a $2,500 bond. Police also notified children services about the child.

Struthers house fire

STRUTHERS

A fire broke out at a home on North Bridge Street Friday morning. Struthers Fire Department arrived on scene at 3:22 a.m. and found the house fully engulfed in flames.

Two residents of the home heard the smoke detector and left the house safely, said Bill Simcox, a fire engineer. The Campbell Fire Department assisted, arriving at 4 a.m. The fire was under control an hour later. Simcox said the fire was accidental and started in the garage.