Certified police chief

Certified police chief

NILES

After serving as acting police chief since February, Capt. Jaisan Holland can remove the word “acting” from his title.

The Civil Service Commission certified Holland as police chief Tuesday. Commission Chairman Thomas Harwood said Holland had the higher score among the two captains who took the test last week. Commission procedures require a 10-day waiting period before certification, but the other captain who took the test, James Marshall, waived his right to challenge the results enabling the quick certification.

Holland, who joined the police department in 2000, said his biggest challenge all along has been “holding it together in the face of fiscal emergency. We have a good [police department] and I’m not going to fix what isn’t broke.”

Holland said he hopes the financially strapped city will continue funding his drug unit.

Facing 36 years

YOUNGSTOWN

De’Ondre Gayles faces a sentence of 36 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to a July homicide on the North Side.

Gayles, 20, of Lemans Drive in Boardman, entered guilty pleas before Judge Shirley J. Christian to charges of voluntary manslaughter, being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of felonious assault and a firearm specification in the July 19 shooting death of Ralph Thomas, 20, of Church Hill Road in Boardman.

Prosecutors dropped a charge of aggravated murder in exchange for Gayles’ plea.

Thomas was found shot to death in his car about 9:50 p.m. July 19 at Dupont and Hammaker streets.

Sentenced to 3 years

WARREN

Marlon A. Swiggett Sr., 29, of McMyler Street Northwest, was sentenced to three years in prison Tuesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for a robbery at the Bazetta Walmart in which he threw a security officer into a filing cabinet while being detained.

Police said Swiggett and another man were detained in the store security office April 20, 2015, accused of shoplifting $383 in merchandise.

But after Swiggett threw the security officer into the cabinet, both men ran from the store and got away.

Police issued a warrant for Swiggett’s arrest, and he was arrested April 27, 2015. Judge Andrew Logan found Swiggett guilty at trial Oct. 31.

Bond reduced

WARREN

Judge Andrew Logan has reduced bond for James A. Gardner, 48, of Iowa Avenue Northwest, from $1 million to $500,000 on one count of aggravated murder and two counts of felonious assault in the June 18 double homicide at Shorty’s Place, a Warren Township bar.

Judge Andrew Logan reduced Gardner’s bond Tuesday during Gardner’s first pretrial hearing.

Gardner, a member of the motorcycle group Forever Two Wheelz, is accused of shooting to death Jason C. Moore, 41, of Bristolville and wounding Andrew G. Claypool, 50, of Girard, and Walter M. Hughes, 41, of Warren, all members of the Brothers Regime motorcycle club.

He remained in the Trumbull County jail Tuesday evening.

Block Watch meeting

YOUNGSTOWN

The Four Square Block Watch will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at Greater Friendship Baptist Church, 646 Lakewood Ave.

Jack Doughtry of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. is the featured speaker.

Holiday concerts

CANFIELD

Canfield High School will kick off its annual holiday concert series Thursday.

The holiday choral concert takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday. The holiday band concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 15.

Both concerts will take place in the high-school auditorium and will feature a selection of favorite holiday songs.

Holiday luncheon

YOUNGSTOWN

Councilwoman Anita Davis invites the public to her annual holiday luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Mount Gilead Baptist Church, 2821 Hillman St.

This event is sit-down, dine-in and free of charge.

Volunteers are needed to help serve and donations of prepared food goods are welcome.

Call Davis at 330-207-0302 with questions.