Man arraigned for stealing from Homewood Avenue mosque

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A man was arraigned Friday in municipal court on charges he broke into a South Side mosque last week.

Emanuel Cofield, 20, was arraigned on a charge of breaking and entering. Magistrate Eugene Fehr set his bond at $5,000.

Cofield is charged with getting inside the Islamic Academy on Homewood Avenue on Nov. 6 without permission.

Reports said police were called to the mosque about 3:45 p.m. for an alarm call. When they arrived, they saw Cofield running out a side door.

Reports said he was ordered to stop by officers but instead ran to East Indianola Avenue, to Shirley Road and Poland Avenue then back up Shirley Road before he was caught. When he was searched, police found $769 in cash on him.

Reports said members of the mosque told officers at the scene Cofield used to come inside and hide when everyone left, then take money that was left by members. He was told a week before he was arrested not to come back because he was stealing, reports said.

Court records show this is his first criminal offense.