Cops find two passed out in cars over weekend

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Two men found passed out in cars over the weekend ended up picking up citations from police.

About 9 p.m. Sunday, police were called to the intersection of Market Street and Midlothian Boulevard for a person passed out in a car. Reports said officers Jeshalia Dunkle and Anthony Trimble saw Frank Szabo, 28, of Canfield, passed out behind the wheel of a car, and his body was convulsing.

The car was in drive and the engine still was running, reports said. Dunkle and Trimble tried several times to wake Szabo but could not, so they smashed a window to get the driver’s door open.

Reports said there was a needle in Szabo’s arm, and paramedics who arrived gave him Narcan, the drug that helps to revive people who overdose on opiates. Although he was revived, Szabo still was very sluggish and it was difficult to communicate with him, reports said.

Inside the car, police found a burnt spoon. Szabo also gave police a capped needle he had in his pockets, reports said.

Szabo was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital to be treated. He was issued citations of possessing drug-abuse instruments and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Just after 10 p.m. Saturday, officers were called to Erie Street and East Judson Avenue for a report of a person down. Reports said when they got there, officers found Marqui Battle, 41, of Youngstown, passed out and slumped over the wheel of a running car that also was parked at an angle where it was blocking a lane of traffic.

Reports said officers could not wake Battle up, so officer Timothy Edwards opened the door and Battle’s legs fell out of the door, reports said. Police also found an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage in the cup holder of the car, reports said.

Reports said police took Battle out of the car but they had to assist him because he was unsteady. He also told police that Christmas was in a couple of days, reports said.

Battle was placed in a cruiser but as soon as he was seated, he fell over on his side, reports said. Reports said an ambulance was called and he was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital to be examined. A blood test was taken to determine the amount of alcohol in his blood.

After he was treated, Battle was taken to the Mahoning County jail because of two outstanding warrants from municipal court. He also was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence.