Man’s trial is halted

Man’s trial is halted

YOUNGSTOWN

The aggravated-murder trial of David Hackett was halted Wednesday as jury selection was set to begin in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court because Hackett wants to act as his own attorney.

Judge John Durkin granted his motion and set a new trial date of May 30. A final pretrial date is April 13.

Hackett, 54, also faces charges of rape and kidnapping for the death of Collena Carpenter, 30, of Homeworth in Columbiana County. Carpenter was found Oct. 13, 2013, near an access area by the Mahoning River near West Avenue. She was stabbed several times.

Shots fired at home

YOUNGSTOWN

No one was injured after several shots were fired at a home in the 3400 block of Ambert Avenue early Wednesday.

Reports said officers were called to the South Side home about 2:40 a.m., where the woman who lives there told police she was sleeping on a couch in the living room when she was awakened by gunfire. She then crawled into a bedroom where her children were sleeping and called 911.

The family left the home for safety reasons after police were called, reports said. Reports said police found seven bullet holes in the home and seven 9mm shell casings in the street.

The home has several cameras but police were not sure if they were recording, reports said.

Investigating scam

AUSTINTOWN

Someone falsely claiming to be a woman’s grandson got her to send him money, according to a report.

The township woman told police she received a call from someone claiming to be her grandson who said he was in jail after a car accident. He said he needed $4,500 to cover damages to the other car and she would be reimbursed by State Farm.

She came up with $2,500, which the suspect reportedly asked her to put on Best Buy gift cards and mail to a Cleveland address.

After subsequently talking to her grandson she realized she was probably the victim of a scam. The matter is under investigation.

Arrested after chase

YOUNGSTOWN

A man and a woman were arrested about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday after a chase that began when an officer heard gunfire.

Ashley Roy, 23, of Burgettstown, Pa., was arrested on a warrant, and Gary Ryan, 30, of Choice Court, was arrested on charges of fleeing and eluding and possession of drugs.

Reports said an officer on patrol heard gunfire in the 500 block of East Lucius Avenue on the South Side and a car Ryan was driving took off.

The car led the officer on a chase through several streets before stopping at a dead end at Cottage Grove and East Philadelphia Avenue. Ryan ran away but was caught. Police found 15 pills on him, reports said.

Roy was a passenger in the car, reports said. Reports said a second passenger also ran away and managed to elude police.

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