METRO DIGEST || Real break-in suspect arraigned

Suspect arraigned

WARREN

Andrew T. Jordan, the man charged with a break-in that was initially blamed on a Warren artist who had similar dread locks and a similar appearance, was arraigned in the break-in Tuesday in Warren Municipal Court.

Jordan, 24, of Brier Street Southwest was arraigned on an April 8 breaking-and-entering charge from Willard Avenue Northeast and a March 21 burglary charge from Woodbine Avenue Southeast. Not-guilty pleas were entered for him, and he is in the Trumbull County Jail not eligible to make bond.

Artist and tattoo-business owner Aaron Chine spent six days in the jail after a witness to the Willard break-in told police the man she saw leaving the break-in was Chine.

But police later checked surveillance video that showed that Chine could not have committed the break-in because he was at his business at the time.

Blast furnace work continues today

WARREN

Asbestos removal has been completed at the blast furnace at the former RG Steel mill, and removal of pipes running between the furnace and nearby power plant is expected to begin today, said Tara Cioffi of the Youngstown City Health Department, environmental health director for the Mahoning County Air Pollution Control Agency.

The owners of the blast furnace and demolition company have not given any indication that any implosion techniques will be used in the furnace removal, she said.

She indicated earlier that the furnace removal was most likely going to occur in pieces, unlike the dramatic implosion that took place when the Jeannette blast furnace at the Brier Hill Works of Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. was brought down in 1997.

Pay adjusted

GIRARD

City council voted this week to adjust the rate of pay for the city prosecutor’s administrative assistant. The assistant will earn $15.25 an hour rather than $15 an hour. The next regular council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at city hall, 100 N. Market St. The Girard Downtown Design Review Board will meet at 4 p.m. Monday at the mayor’s office.

Conspiracy sentence

PITTSBURGH

A 23-year-old New Castle, Pa., resident has been sentenced to five years in prison after he was convicted of conspiracy to distribute an ounce or more of crack cocaine, the U.S. Attorney said.

U.S. District Court Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Melvin Dorsey-Pace.

In 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Castle police and the Lawrence County Drug Task Force joined forces in a long-term wiretap investigation of drug trafficking in New Castle.

The probe revealed that Dorsey-Pace conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute crack cocaine which was transported from Buffalo, N.Y., to the New Castle area, the U.S. attorney said.

Man faces charges of drug possession

AUSTINTOWN

Officers issued a man a summons after they found him smoking marijuana in the Mahoning County Area Court parking lot.

According to the report, officers detected “a strong odor of burnt marijuana” coming from Gage Thimlar’s vehicle in the Austintown Plaza, 6000 Mahoning Ave., late Monday.

Thimlar, 20, of Backwater Cove, admitted to officers he smoked marijuana in his car earlier that day, reports said.

When officers found a plastic bag of suspected marijuana and marijuana cigarettes in the car they issued Thimlar a court summons for possession of drugs.

Art for Life exhibit

BOARDMAN

Beeghly Oaks, 6505 Market St., will display the artworks of 28 facility residents, staff and community members that participated in CareRite’s Beeghly Oaks “Art for Life” art exhibit, which is open to the public. Voting on the artworks has been extended to 9 p.m. Thursday.

An artist’s reception is planned for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, where all artists will be recognized, awarded certificates, and the favorite works of voters will be awarded ribbons and trophies. The first-place award winner will earn $100; second, $50; and third, $25. An after-party will follow the reception, and the Girard Community Swing Band will perform in the gazebo at the facility from 7 to 8.

For information, contact recreation director Maureen McCarty at 330-884-2300.

The center also is taking reservations for a Paint and Taste class with art instructor Sue Jacobs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 26.