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Woman found passed out in car gave cops sister's name
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A woman who was found passed out in a car last week with a large quantity of drugs also gave police a false name.
Lesa Elizabeth Paris, 29, of Hazelwood Avenue, was arraigned Monday in municipal court on three felony drug charges, plus a misdemeanor charge of escape and three other misdemeanor drug charges.
Judge Elizabeth Kobly set her bond at $30,000.
Paris was found passed out in a running car about 10:35 p.m. Wednesday at a 1 N. Meridan Road gas station. Reports said officers found two needles and two spoons next to her, as well as 30 pills in a bottle. More pills were found in her key chain when she was taken by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.
She told police she had not injected drugs, but officers found numerous needle tracks on her arms and legs, reports said.
She gave police the name of a 26-year-old woman who turned out to be her sister, reports said.
About 4:10 p.m. Friday, police were called to the hospital to assist hospital police in looking for Paris, who had left the hospital without permission. She had a police hold on her, reports said.
Reports said she was found right away at the corner of Park Avenue and Covington Street. She was charged with escape and taken to the Mahoning County jail.
While in the jail, police discovered her real name, reports said, and a new charge was issued to her about 1 a.m. Saturday. In court, when asked on video monitor from the jail if she needed a court-appointed lawyer, Paris answered she had last worked two years ago but several of her answers were mumbled and she appeared to be disoriented.
Paris is due back in court Monday for a preliminary hearing.