METRO DIGEST || Frost trafficking case

Frost trafficking case

YOUNGSTOWN

The top officer of a local organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering area youths could be headed to trial on a drug-trafficking charge.

Youngstown Municipal Judge Elizabeth Kobly found that there was enough evidence Tuesday to send the case of Timothy Frost to a Mahoning County grand jury, according to 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner.

Frost was placed on indefinite leave without pay as executive director of Inspiring Minds Youngstown, after he was charged with trafficking in drugs and several other crimes April 3.

According to a police report, a search of Frost’s Cadillac turned up $310, a grinder, a digital scale and 16 bags of marijuana.

Burger Guyz challenge

YOUNGSTOWN

The Burger Guyz Cheeseburger Challenge had one final Meat 16 matchup left: The Battle for Trumbull County. Just Fred’s put its bacon and bleu cheese stuffed burger up against Fire Grill and its Cali burger. Just Fred’s won 3-0.

Watch the Vindy’s Facebook and Twitter pages for updates as the Cheeseburger Championship will take place Thursday afternoon.

Priest to speak on pope’s encyclical

YOUNGSTOWN

The Rev. Bob Bonnot, pastor of Christ Our Savior Church, Struthers, will speak at 7 p.m. today at Youngstown State University’s Cushwa Hall, Room B112, on “Caring for Our Common Home,” the Second Encyclical of Pope Francis.

Father Bonnot is chairman of the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Youngstown.

The lecture is free and open to the public. There is free on-street parking after 5 p.m. at the metered parking spaces along Lincoln Avenue and nearby streets.

Reward offered in double homicide

LIBERTY

The police department is asking the public for any information relating to an apparent double homicide in the township.

Police responded at about 11:50 p.m. Thursday to the 3200 block of Frederick Street and found Jesse Cooper, 62, of Frederick Street and Gloria Khory, 39, of Logan Avenue dead in an apartment.

The deaths are being investigated as homicides. Police say they have identified several suspects in the case.

Anyone with information should call 330-539-9830. Tipsters may remain anonymous. In exchange for information, police are offering a reward of an undisclosed amount of money.

Clarett to speak at YES FEST! at Mooney

YOUNGSTOWN

Cardinal Mooney High School will present its third YES FEST! from 8:15 to 11:15 a.m. Thursday. Educating and encouraging, the YES FEST! urges students to live a drug- and alcohol-free life. The event includes guest speaker Maurice Clarett, former Ohio State University football standout and member of the 2002 national championship team. Clarett is a motivational speaker.

Murder trial scheduled

WARREN

A Warren Township murder case that has languished in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for several years because of mental-health evaluations is heading for trial.

Court officials said Monday that Judge Andrew Logan has deemed Patrick L. Heltzel, 22, of Atlantic Street Northeast competent to stand trial. Trial date is May 23, and Judge Logan will hear the case without a jury.

Heltzel is charged with killing Milton A. Grumbling III at Grumbling’s home on Kincaid East Road about April 5, 2013.

Heltzel’s father, Larry, filed a missing-person report with the Warren Police Department on April 3, saying Patrick had indicated he was “going to kill someone.”

Investigating assaults

WARREN

Police are investigating an incident at Uncle Sil’s Bar, 2774 Youngstown Road, in which the owner of the bar, 31, his girlfriend, 22, and another female, 31, were assaulted by two males.

The three victims and a witness said the owner was walking his girlfriend out the front of the bar at 11:45 p.m. Monday when a male made a remark. The owner made a remark back, and the two males followed them, hitting the owner over the head with a bottle and punching and kicking him, police said.

The two women came to his aid, and they also were assaulted. One of them fell unconscious after being hit in the head.

The owner suffered a severe head cut. The women suffered minor injuries. The woman who was unconscious was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Child-endangering case

WARREN

A Youngstown woman reported child endangering to police Monday after her son, 8, reported having been stabbed in the hand with a syringe last week while staying with his father at his home on Third Street Southwest. The boy was treated at Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley in Boardman.

Bullet strikes porch

WARREN

A resident of Scott Street Northeast said a bullet struck the porch of her home at 4:40 p.m. Monday after she spotted four males fighting with one another and then guns being used and a “gunfight broke out, in which one of the stray rounds struck her front porch.”

The woman was on the porch with family and the bullet hit “a couple feet away” from where she was standing, she said.

Police saw a bullet hole on the wall of the porch, but the bullet was found on the porch. A child had touched it, the woman said.

Community meeting

NILES

Niles Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia will host a community meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday at the city’s wellness center, 213 Sharkey Drive. The public is encouraged to attend.

Block watch to meet

YOUNGSTOWN

Four Square Block Watch will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at Greater Friendship Baptist Church, 646 Lakewood Ave. Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st, is the speaker.

Car window shot out

YOUNGSTOWN

Police are investigating after someone shot out the window of a car Saturday morning on the North Side.

About 5 a.m. Saturday, police were called to the 200 block of Fairgreen Avenue, where a newspaper carrier told officers someone had shot out his back window. The carrier told police he was driving on Ohio Avenue when he noticed a car following him, then its headlights went off. The carrier then heard several gunshots, including one that shattered his back window. The carrier was not injured.