Gambling probe

Gambling probe

BOARDMAN

An Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation probe of suspected illegal gambling led to the arrest Monday of David Barna, 51, of Medina, on warrants for two counts of gambling and one count of operating a gambling house.

AG spokeswoman Jill Del Greco confirmed BCI investigated suspected illegal gambling at Players, an establishment on Boardman-Canfield Road, and the investigation resulted in charges against Barna.

BCI agents served a search warrant there in December 2016. They also searched two other township businesses suspected of illegal gambling activities, leading to arrests in August this year.

$100,000 bond set for robbery suspect

BOARDMAN

A judge set bond at $100,000 for a robbery suspect.

Michael Varchulik, 48, of Campbell appeared Tuesday in Mahoning County Area Court for arraignment on charges of attempted aggravated robbery, robbery and receiving stolen property.

The charges stem from incidents reported last week. Police say Varchulik stole a car from a Midlothian Boulevard gas station, tried unsuccessfully to rob a McDonald’s on Western Reserve Road, then robbed a Huntington Bank on U.S. Route 224.

Facing drug charges

YOUNGSTOWN

Reports said a man arrested early Tuesday on drug charges told police he was teaching a man how to drive in exchange for crack cocaine.

Reports said police pulled over a car about 6:10 a.m. Tuesday at East Federal Street and South Avenue for an improper turn. Reports said police smelled marijuana in the car and asked the driver and passenger of the car, Stephen Mazzola, 21, to get out.

On the seat where Mazzola was sitting police found a crack pipe. When he was searched, they found two bags of suspected heroin in his coat pocket, reports said.

Mazzola faces charges of possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is in the Mahoning County jail. Reports said on the way to the jail, Mazzola denied the heroin was his and said he was teaching the driver of the car that was pulled over how to drive in exchange for crack cocaine. At the jail, corrections officers found a syringe in Mazzola’s underwear, reports said.

Opioid summit

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County Juvenile Court Advisory and Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery boards are sponsoring a community opioid summit moderated by 21 WFMJ-TV from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Covelli Centre.

The event will feature video messages from U.S. Sens. Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown, as well as several guest speakers. An hour for public comment will be set aside from noon to 1 p.m.

Mona Alexander and Derek Styer from WFMJ will moderate the event. Refreshments will be available.

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