Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Murder trial to start
WARREN
Arthur Harper is scheduled to go to trial Monday in the murder of his common-law wife’s 3-year-old son in 2015.
Harper, 45, of High Street Northeast, is charged with murder, felonious assault and child endangering in the Nov. 28, 2015, death of Russell Cottrill.
Still unresolved is whether certain evidence will be suppressed from evidence, such as comments Harper made to a detective about a wrestling move Harper said he used on the boy.
Officer hurt in chase
YOUNGSTOWN
A city police officer was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital to be examined Tuesday after he injured his ankle chasing someone on foot in a ravine on Gaither Avenue.
Police tried to pull over a car there about 3 p.m. for a traffic infraction when the passenger ran away and down into the heavily wooded ravine. The officer followed but hurt his ankle. The man the officer was chasing got away. Police were questioning the driver. Inside the car they found a small amount of suspected marijuana and a laser sight for a handgun, police said.
Robbery at Rite Aid
BOARDMAN
Township police are investigating a robbery reported at a U.S. Route 224 Rite Aid about 8:15 p.m. Monday.
Pharmacists told police that a man entered the store and handed one of them a note stating that he was a drug addict and wanted suboxone, a medication used to treat opioid dependence. The note also stated that he had a gun.
The man left in a maroon Ford Taurus driven by a woman after they gave him suboxone.
Austintown bricks
AUSTINTOWN
Austintown National Honor Society will pass out bricks from the old Austintown Middle School building from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Greenwood Falcon Stadium, 700 S. Raccoon Road. The school district said the bricks are in limited quantities, and are available one per person, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Charged after stop
BOARDMAN
A township man faces numerous charges after a stop at an impaired driving checkpoint on South Avenue.
Wesley Smidt, 27, of Glendale Avenue was charged with possession of cocaine, obstructing official business, tampering with evidence, escape and resisting arrest in connection with the Saturday-night incident, according to a police report. He also was cited for marijuana possession.
Police said Smidt led officers on a foot chase, and tried to get rid of a plastic bag. Smidt told police he was scared because he is on probation, according to the report. He was taken to the Mahoning County jail.
Girard council to meet
GIRARD
Girard City Council will have a special meeting at 3:30 p.m. today at the service director’s office, 100 W. Main St., regarding an application to participate in the state Transportation Alternatives Program.