Thursday, March 31, 2016
Captain demoted
STRUTHERS
A Struthers police captain has been demoted after an incident last summer. Matt Haus was demoted this month to the rank of patrolman. He also received a 14-day unpaid working suspension. Mayor Terry Stocker said Haus agreed not to contest the disciplinary action.
The city determined Haus failed to immediately respond to Sexton Street about an aggravated robbery at Yellow Creek Park in July 2015. A Struthers detective prepared a statement purporting Haus deliberately took extra time to respond to the robbery because of his personal dislike for the two detectives who were on call. Haus could not be reached to comment.
Park group to meet
YOUNGSTOWN
Concerned Citizens for Mill Creek MetroParks will host its second community meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave. The group recently formed in opposition to park leadership after staff cuts at the park district.
Murder charge
YOUNGSTOWN
Julius Williams, 28, is in the Mahoning County jail on $500,000 bond after his arraignment Wednesday in municipal court on an aggravated murder charge in the Monday beating death of his grandfather, William Cox, 87.
Cox was found beaten to death about 11:30 p.m. Monday inside his home in the 300 block of Harvard Street. Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Moliterno told Magistrate Anthony Sertick that Williams confessed killing his grandfather by beating him with a hammer.
A preliminary hearing for Williams has been set for next week.
Car impounded
BOARDMAN
Township police impounded a car they said is stolen after a suspect reportedly led them on a chase.
A township detective reported Tuesday that a black Volkswagen Jetta that had been reported stolen earlier this week nearly struck his unmarked police vehicle, seemingly on purpose, after running a stop sign on Auburndale Avenue at Erie Street.
The driver of the vehicle then reportedly led the officer on a chase that eventually had to be terminated due to safety concerns.
Later Tuesday, Youngstown police reported the vehicle had been located on Regent Street, at which time township police took possession of it. No suspects were apprehended.
The listed offenses are felony-four receiving stolen property and felony-three failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer.
Identity fraud
BOARDMAN
Township police are investigating a case of identity fraud and deception to obtain dangerous drugs reported Tuesday at Walmart, 1300 Doral Drive.
A woman approached a police officer at the store to report that she had discovered that someone had used her name numerous times to obtain a prescription for pain medication. The victim discovered the identity fraud during an appointment with a new doctor. While attempting to obtain pain medication due to an injury, she reportedly was informed that a prescription in her name had been filled multiple times since last summer. Several of the prescriptions were filled at Walmart.
Video surveillance from the store reportedly shows a woman, who did not appear to be the victim, picking up one of the prescriptions there, according to the report. Other prescriptions in the victim’s name reportedly were filled at pharmacies in Youngstown and Warren.
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