No appeal filed in contempt case over Black Lives button

No appeal filed in contempt case over Black Lives button

YOUNGSTOWN

An appeal has not yet been filed by the attorney who was cited for contempt of court Friday for failing to remove a Black Lives Matter button in municipal court.

A search of records for the 7th District Court of Appeals on Wednesday showed that Andrea Burton still has not filed her appeal after she was issued the citation Friday by Judge Robert Milich.

Judge Milich also sentenced Burton to five days in jail, and she was taken into custody but released after Judge Milich agreed to stay the sentence on the condition Burton does not wear the button in court while any appeal is pending, and also that she adhere to the dress code in municipal court. The judge made that decision after consultation with lawyers on Burton’s behalf.

Burton said Wednesday she still has not made up her mind on whether an appeal will be filed.

Valley man faces federal charges

PITTSBURGH

Federal charges were filed Tuesday against a man who once lived in New Waterford who is accused of intentionally ramming a dump truck through the gate and security barriers and past an occupied guard booth at the Pittsburgh FBI office Tuesday morning, the U.S. Attorney said.

The criminal complaint charges Thomas Ross, 48, who more recently lived in Trafford and Monroeville, Pa., with damaging government property.

A Pittsburgh police motorcycle officer stopped a large dump truck he saw driving erratically and running red lights on Carson Street. Before ramming the gate, Ross told the officer he had a bomb and that he had to see the FBI across the street, the U.S. attorney said.

No bomb was found. Ross was treated for minor injuries before being jailed.

Gun, drugs found

YOUNGSTOWN

Police on Tuesday found a .22-caliber handgun and individual doses of suspected heroin, crack cocaine and marijuana during a traffic stop.

Reports said vice-squad officers on patrol pulled over a car about 3:46 p.m. in the first block of East Boston Avenue on the South Side for an improper turn.

As the officers approached the car, reports said the passenger, Brian Mims, 22, of Gypsy Lane, reached into his pants as if he were trying to hide something and he was asked to get out of the car.

The gun and drugs were found on Mims when he was searched, reports said. He was taken to the Mahoning County jail on charges of possession of heroin, possession of crack cocaine, possession of marijuana and carrying a concealed weapon.

Police issued the driver citations for driving under suspension and for making an illegal turn.

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