YPD officers chase, catch dollar store robbery suspect

YOUNGSTOWN — Reports said police Sunday afternoon chased a suspected robber from an Oak Street store to a Kendis Circle apartment complex.

Keyshawn Blalock, 20, of New Road, is expected to be arraigned later today in municipal court on charges of robbery and obstructing official business.

Police were called about 3 p.m. to an 1833 Oak St. Family Dollar store, where employees said a suspicious man dressed all in black was inside. When he was asked to take his hood off, reports said he put his hand in his pocket like he had a gun and demanded money.

As police arrived Blalock was running out of the door with one of the employees of the store chasing him, reports said. Reports said he ran east towards the McCartney Road bridge, eluding officers on both foot and in a cruiser, and headed towards Kendis Circle.

On Kendis Circle a neighbor alerted police to a building and officers knocked on all the doors before a woman gave them permission to look inside.

They found Blalock in a bedroom where he was taken into custody, reports said.