Witness surrenders to U.S. marshals

Witness surrenders to U.S. marshals

BOARDMAN

A witness to a Youngstown homicide surrendered to police Wednesday after failing to appear at a hearing and fleeing from the police.

Raymond Ortiz surrendered to U.S. marshals about 11 a.m. and was turned over to the Boardman Police Department, township Police Chief Jack Nichols said.

Authorities said Ortiz witnessed the shooting death of Jason Fonseca in February.

Kimani Hodges and Angel Bell, both of Youngstown, are on trial for the murder.

The trial’s jury-selection process was delayed when Ortiz fled from the marshals in Boardman on Tuesday.

He ran his car into a utility pole near West Boulevard and Melbourne Avenue. Ortiz got out and ran away.

Nichols said charges will be brought against Ortiz for his part in causing an accident and fleeing police.

15 properties sell at auditor’s auction

YOUNGSTOWN

Fifteen of 20 forfeited, tax-delinquent properties on the auditor’s auction list were sold Wednesday in a 35-minute auction that drew seven registered bidders.

In the first Mahoning County auditor’s auction here in six years, the city of Youngstown bought four of the properties for its land reutilization program, said county Auditor Ralph Meacham.

A man who came from New Jersey bought an Indianola Road house in Boardman for $4,000.

The five unsold properties may be turned over to the county land bank or listed for sale in the next county auditor’s auction, tentatively set for March 1, Meacham said.

Weather sirens test

HERMITAGE, PA.

The Hermitage Fire Department will conduct the monthly test of the Shenango Valley weather warning sirens at 10 a.m. today. The test will include activation of the Clark, Farrell, Sharpsville, Shenango Township, West Middlesex and Wheatland weather sirens. Residents are asked to disregard the sirens during the test.

Telephone scam

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene issued a warning to the public about a telephone scam in which the caller identifies himself as a ranking officer of the department and tells the individual who answers that they need to pay for an outstanding citation or warrant.

The caller is using names of deputies and making references to local county judges. The caller is leaving messages on answering machines with an 877 number to return the call.

Greene said the sheriff’s office never solicits payment of any type of fine or fee over the telephone. He warned people to never give out personal or any financial or credit-card information over the phone.

He advised people with caller ID to not answer calls from numbers they don’t recognize and call the sheriff’s office at 330-480-5020 if they receive a call they think is a scam.

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