43
Two arraigned on felony drug charges
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Damon Banks Lopez told a municipal court magistrate his wallet is his “safest place” for his money, but he didn’t have enough funds to hire a lawyer.
Banks Lopez, 20, of Meadowbrook Lane, was arraigned Monday on drug charges and tried to explain to Magistrate Anthony Sertick why he needed a court-appointed attorney even though he had $865 in his wallet when he was arrested about 7:35 p.m. Friday at Hillman Street and East Auburndale Avenue on the South Side after a car he was driving failed to signal for a turn.
Sertick asked Banks Lopez if he had a job or other assets to determine if he qualified for court-appointed counsel. Banks Lopez said no, adding he lives with his family and “helps out around the house.”
When Sertick asked why he had so much money on him, Banks Lopez said he was saving for a car. Sertick asked why he did not have his money in a bank and where he got the money. Banks Lopez said his wallet is his “safest place” and his mother was going to pay half the car’s price.
Sertick said he was skeptical but he did agree to appoint a lawyer for him.
Reports said when Banks Lopez was pulled over, police found a rock of suspected crack cocaine and three pills on the driver’s seat. His bond was set at $15,000 on charges of possession of cocaine and possession of drugs.
A passenger, Darius Dates, 19, of East Dewey Avenue, was arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business because reports said he ran from the car when it pulled over but he was caught after a brief foot chase.
Also arraigned on a felony cocaine-possession charge was John Houser, 52, who police arrested about 1:30 a.m. Saturday at Edwards Street and West Chalmers Avenue on the South Side after he was seen walking in the street with two other men.
City ordinances forbid someone from walking in the street when a sidewalk is provided unless the sidewalk is blocked.
Reports said Houser threw a bag on the ground, and inside the bag was a rock of suspected crack cocaine.
Charged with possession of drug paraphernalia was Michael Favors, 42, of West Indianola Avenue, who had a marijuana pipe, and Raymond Edwards, 57, of Woodside Avenue, who had a crack pipe, police said.