Niles man indicted on 16 criminal charges

Staff report

WARREN

A Niles man was indicted Thursday on 16 charges, including four counts of felonious assault and two counts of kidnapping after leading police on a high-speed chase in Weathersfield Township Monday.

Michael Peach, 40, of Trumbull Drive, also is facing charges of gross sexual imposition: aggravated burglary; attempted kidnapping; aggravated robbery; intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness; retaliation; possessing criminal tools and failure to comply with the orders of a police officer.

The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, 21 WFMJ-TV, reported that Peach is accused of breaking into a home on Poplar Street and assaulting three or four people around 8 a.m.

A victim who called police after Peach fled was able to describe his car and license plate number and provide his name.

Police say they found Peach on Salt Springs Road driving at high speeds when he led them on a pursuit.

The chase ended on state Route 46 after Peach crashed into a tree but continued on foot through the woods in the direction of Niles.

After searching for an hour, police located Peach in a trench in the woods trying to commit suicide by stabbing himself in the chest with a knife, WFMJ said.

He was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for medical treatment.

If convicted on all charges, Peach could get about 100 years in prison.