Howland man charged with robbing Warren gas station early Saturday

Staff report

WARREN

Eric C. Hinkle, 37, of Rosegarden Drive, Howland, remains in the Trumbull County jail in lieu of $50,000 bond, charged with the early-Saturday aggravated robbery of the Speedway gas station, 4000 E. Market Street.

A woman arrested with him, Stephanie A. Mazi, 48, of Woodland Trail, Cortland, pleaded no contest Monday in Warren Municipal Court to a misdemeanor drug-paraphernalia charge unrelated to the robbery, was found guilty and fined $250.

Hinkle, who was arraigned Monday in Warren Municipal Court, could get eight years in prison if convicted.

A Speedway employee reported being robbed by a man wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt tied around his face at 2:55 a.m. Saturday. The suspect left the store on foot.

The male had filled a plastic cup with a beverage, then walked up to a register with his hand in his jacket, acting as if he had a gun. He got cash and ran.

Warren police Officer David Weber was working an off-duty job at the time and heard over his police radio about the robbery.

He headed east on Youngstown Road in the direction of the robbery and saw Hinkle’s car travel from Eastland Avenue onto Youngstown Road and noted that Hinkle’s appearance was similar to that of the robber.

The officer waited nearby while the vehicle entered a Youngstown Road gas station with Hinkle pumping gas into the car and adding air to a tire.

When a second officer arrived, police questioned Hinkle and Mazi, his passenger, and found a plastic beverage cup in the car, as well as a gray-hooded sweatshirt.

Weber took Hinkle back to the Speedway and the clerk immediately identified Hinkle as the robber, police said.