Man arraigned

Man arraigned

YOUNGSTOWN

A Warren man was arraigned Friday in municipal court on charges of tampering with evidence and fleeing and eluding after reports said he led police on a chase Thursday afternoon with two small children in the car.

Reports said Tawaun Ceaser, 25, of Merriweather Avenue, was driving a car about 5:45 p.m. on Youngstown-Hubbard Road on the East Side when an officer tried to pull him over for driving left of center.

The car failed to stop, and reports said officers could see Ceaser leaning out the window and breaking a “white, rock like substance” in pieces off on the side of the car and a plastic bag also flew out the window.

Reports said Ceaser pulled over in the 2400 block of Youngstown-Hubbard Road and was ordered out of the car at gunpoint. Inside were the two children, reports said.

The children were turned over to their grandmother, and Ceaser was booked into the Mahoning County jail.

Resignation

AUSTINTOWN

John Lenkey, director of transportation for Austintown schools, announced he will resign from the position effective March 17.

Lenkey said he made the decision to resign when he was offered another job.

He took the job when previous transportation director Colleen Murphy-Penk left in October to work for Youngstown City Schools. The district is taking applications for what will be its third transportation director this school year.

Shoplifting charge

AUSTINTOWN

A woman arrested on shoplifting charges Thursday was found to have several syringes and a burnt spoon in her purse, according to a police report.

Police arrested Emily Mahan, 28, of Leavittsburg, as she left Kmart, 4475 Mahoning Ave. Police said they found a stolen BB gun tucked in her waistband and other items from the store concealed in her coat and purse.

Also with Mahan was Sheila Macaluso, 50, of Leavittsburg, who told police she had stolen several items from Family Farm & Home at 4477 Mahoning Ave. She also was placed under arrest.

When searching the suspects, police said they found four syringes and a burnt spoon in Mahan’s purse.

Mahan is charged with theft and possession of criminal tools, drug-abuse instruments and drug paraphernalia. Mancuso is charged with theft and possession of criminal tools. They will appear Monday in Mahoning County Area Court.

Man arrested

YOUNGSTOWN

Police arrested a man about 3 p.m. Friday hiding in a garage in the 100 block of East Philadelphia Avenue after he ran from a car in the 200 block of East Boston Avenue that an officer tried to pull over because it was stolen.

Officers tracked the man to the garage, where he was found lying in the back of a dilapidated car on top of an old rifle.

Another person who was in the car but did not run was arrested. Both were taken to the Mahoning County jail.

Fire extinguished

YOUNGSTOWN

Firefighters put out a fire in a bedroom at a home Thursday night in the 500 block of Loveless Avenue on the East Side.

Crews were called about 8:25 p.m. and found a mattress on fire, which was quickly extinguished.

A cause has yet to be determined, but a fire department spokesman at the scene said careless smoking is the most likely cause.

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