Trumbull Farm forecast

Farms in Trumbull County:

ö 26,700 acres of soy beans in 2013

ö 22,000 acres of corn in 2013

ö 9,670 acres of hay in 2013

ö 2,800 acres of wheat in 2013

ö 888 farmers, in 2012

ö 128 acres, average farm size in 2012

ö 113,896 acres, total land in farms in 2012

ö $150,000 spent on local fruit and berries in 2012

ö $500,000 spent on local vegetables in 2012

ö $47,859,000 gross receipts of agricultural produce in 2012

Source: Ohio Department of Agriculture

Tribune Chronicle

By RENEE FOX

Because of the cold and wet start to the year, local farmers are looking to April with hopes of the warmer weather that might save the growing season and prevent a reduction of planted acreage in the county.

âConditions in April need to improve significantly, or we will have a shortened planting season, which means less crops,ã agriculture educator David Marrison from The Ohio State University Ashtabula Extension Office said. âLast winter was the worst in a century. We are going into spring with plenty of ground moisture, but we need to start seeing some warmer temperatures.ã

Soil temperatures are still rather cool, Marrison said, and the ground needs to dry a bit more before planting can really take off. As long as the April skies open up with some sunrays, the amount of cropland that will go unplanted should stay under 10 percent of the total farm acreage in Trumbull County.

There are roughly 2,300 acres of oats planted in the county each year, one of the crops that depends on a early, warm spring for high yeild production, Marrison said. Oats in the county are typically used for cattle and horse feed, and prices of the crop are usually set nationally. Farmers stand to lose a percentage of profts, if they are unable to sow 10 percent of what they could have with warmer tempertures and less moisture in the soil.

âWe just know that, going into this year, it is going to be a struggle,ã Marrison said. âWe know it is going to be a late start to the season, we can hope for a late fall to offset the temperature disparity.ã

Marrison forecasted that 10 percent of acres traditionally planted with corn will this year be planted with soy beans, more than just a trend, soy beans are easierä and cheaperä to care for in less than ideal growing conditions.

Although grass crops do well in wetter soil conditions, many farmers in Trumbull County have moved away from the labor intensive planting and gathering of hay in exchange for soy production, Marrison said.

Berry farmers in the area will be especially dependent on April temperatures. Ray Matwich of Matwichás Berry Farm said when he looks out at a strawberry field in May, the April weather will determine if he sees a sea of little white flowers or just green, forecasting the amount of strawberries children and tourists will be able to pick in the Leavittsburg fields. The weather conditions could push back the typical Memorial Day weekend opening of the berry farm, 6648 Kale Adams Road, by a few weeks, if it hasnát been warm enough for the berries to ripen.

But the local farmers markets in Warren and Howland are ready to get started on summer selling, regardless of oat, wheat or soy production.Many booths will be filled with produce from the surrounding counties, as well as smaller growers that might not report to the stateás department of agriculture.

Howlandás market partnered with the Lake to River Food Cooperative, in order to expand selection during the winter months. Shoppers can place co-op orders online at localfoodmarketpalce.com/laketoriver. The partnership has helped with the success of the winter market, most farmers markets are not open in the colder months.

âWe attribute the success of the winter market on the simple fact that market customers want to stay connected with their local food growers and producers all year long, not just during the summer months, said Kim Mascarella, the townshipás zoning director. âThis collaboration expands the local food offerings to market customers while providing local food businesses with new customers.ã

The Howland Farmers Market winter season will continue to be held on the third Saturday of the month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. until the beginning of the summer market season, which begins Saturday, June 20. Summer hours will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. The market is always held at the Richard E. Orwig Park in Howland Township.

A recent addition popping up in farmers markets, not only across the county, but right here in the county, is the acceptance of government food benefits. Howland and the Warren market accept SNAP.

This year, Warren is trying out a program that doubles the value of food stamps, making it even easier for people of all incomes to feed themselves and their families in a healthy and locally minded way, Sheila Calko, director of the GROW program in Warren said.

Also, Calko announced the Warren market, âwill be conducting a study of the market over the next two years to measure the social and economic impact of the market on the Warren community, especially focusing on the downtown area and closest adjacent neighborhood(s).ã

rfox@tribtoday.com

Warren PD accepting applications

WARREN ä Open testing to become a Warren City police officer has been announced by the civil service commission.

ö Turn in applications from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the Warren Municipal Building, 141 South St. S.E.

ö Applications can be found at Warren City Hall in the safety service directorás office and the human resources department, and the Warren Police Department.

ö The test is 10 a.m. April 25, a Saturday, in the cafeteria of Warren G. Harding High School, 860 Elm Road N.E.

ö Call 330-841-2536 with any questions.

A/C thieves hit ACOP

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN - Another establishment in the city, the Alliance Community Outreach building, has been targeted by thieves for the copper coils in outdoor air conditioning units sometime in the last week, according to a report filed with Warren police on Monday.

The executive director of ACOP, Charlene Allen, told police that the units were behind the building at 2051 Niles Road S.E. and that the theft happened sometime after March 30.

The three York units were damaged badly enough that they will need to be replaced, costing an estimated $10,000, the report states.

On March 4, Alpha and Omega Ministries Pastor Derrick Scott reported that the church's air conditioning unit was mostly removed from their 561 Washington St. N.E. building.

Costing an estimated $3,000 to replace, Scott said he noticed the unit was gone when he followed tire tracks he found suspicious along the side of the building.

Who ever took the metal, Scott said, is unlikely to get more than $100 for it at a scrap yard.

A state law that came into full effect in February created a data base that scrap buyers are required to use to document and photograph each transaction. Scrap dealers are also not allowed to buy scrap from anyone with a reported theft conviction. Police officers can make accounts to access the database and can use it to track transactions and ensure known thieves are not selling stolen items for cash.

The Warren and Niles municipal courts, and the lower courts in Trumbull County do not report their theft convictions to the database.

Other reported incidents of air conditioning units being harvested for their copper coils were reported at Believers Church, 2577 Schenley Ave. N.E.; St. Elijah's, 3480 Ridge Ave. S.E. in Howland; Blessed Sacrament in Warren, 3020 Reeves Road N.E., in February and March.

Total estimates of the damage or the cost to replace the irreparable units in all of these cases soars above $100,000.

Ohio had the highest occurrence of metal theft insurance claims in the nation between 2011 and 2013, according to a 2014 National Insurance Crime Bureau report. Ten percent of the 41,138 claims for copper, aluminum, brass and bronze theft in the nation were filed by Ohioans.

Dan Lazor, facility manager at Blessed Sacrament Parish, said in February, âWho would do this to a church? These are industrial-size units. They are only going to get a fraction to what the church is going to have to spend to replace them.ã

rfox@tribtoday.com

Man accused of pointing shotgun outside Franklin Pharmacy

    By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN - A 59-year-old Warren man being held at the county jail refused to attend his video arraignment Tuesday to answer charges that he pointed a loaded rifle at a man just after 5 p.m. Monday outside of Franklin Pharmacy, according to police and court records.

Alvin McMillian, 715 Webb Court S.W. in Warren, was stopped behind the Pit Stop, 1708 Youngstown Road, after 19-year-old Macio Jenkins called police, the report states. Jenkins told officers a man matching McMillian's description approached him holding the rifle as he finished changing a tire on a van in the pharmacy's parking lot, 1732 Youngstown Road S.E., the officer wrote in the report.

Jenkins, police stated, ran across Woodbine Avenue when he saw a man pull the gun out of a black bag and point it in his direction.

When police found McMillian, the report states, he had a black bag in his possession containing a .22 semi-automatic rifle with two rounds.

The police officer said the pharmacy has two video surveillance tapes that he watched, which show the incident.

McMillian's arraignment has been rescheduled for today. He is charged with felony carrying concealed weapons, having weapons under disability, aggravated menacing and possessing drug paraphernalia.

rfox@tribtoday.com

Girard bank robbery

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

GIRARD ä Police here are looking for a man who they said robbed Farmerás National Bank, 121 N. State St. of $4,400 around 10:30 a.m. Monday.

Chief Jeff Palmer said a black man wearing dark clothing and a hat handed a teller a note requesting money. A description in the report states the man was between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-9 and had something covering part of his face.

An incident report states that the suspectás note indicated he had a gun, which he never pulled out, and asked for loose $20, $50 and $100 bills.

The man, the teller told police, whispered to her not to give him the bait money.

Witnesses told police the suspect ran south from the building into the parking lot and east onto Main Street. Police said he may have had a get-away car waiting, no suspects have been taken into custody.

Palmer said the note has been taken into evidence and investigators may release a still picture of the suspect from surveillance video.

Girard police can be reached at 330-545-0211.

rfox@tribtoday.com

Hypee II complainant charged with disturbing the peace

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN ä A well-documented complainant of the II Hype Bar pleaded not guilty Monday in Warren Municipal Court to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace after an incident around 11:30 p.m. Friday night.

Police knocked on Chris Alsbrookás door, 470 Summit St. N.W., after they received a call about loud music at II Hype and, after arriving, heard a loud alarm or siren coming from his neigh boring residence.

Alsbrook is known to police, council members and reporters at the Tribune Chronicle for calls regarding the volume of music and trash produced by patrons at the establishment.

Police stated in the report that the siren was so loud it was the only sound that could be heard outside, in the vicinity of the bar.

âThis has been an ongoing problem between Chris Alsbrook at 470 Summit St. and the II Hype Bar,ã an officer wrote in the incident report. âI have warned Alsbrook on several occasions about the alarm and how it was a nuisance to the area and he was subject to arrest for it.ã

Alsbrook could not be reached for comment.

But in 2013, Alsbrook told a Tribune Chronicle reporter the music was so loud that it rattles his windows and vibrates items inside his home.

âAll we are doing is asking them to lower the volume late at night,ã he said. âThey put the speakers outside on its back patio.ã

In the past, Alsbrook has circulated petitions to close the bar.

Also in years past, Warren police officers have gone to Alsbrookás home with devices to measure the sound levels and said they have always found the volume within the limits allowed by the cityás noise ordinances. Alsbrook claimed that was because bar operators turn down the volume when police arrive.

Council member Al Novak and Mayor Doug Franklin both have met with each side to mediate their concerns over volume and other concerns at II Hype.

rfox@tribtoday.com

Police: Man swung newborn overhead in carseat

Man arrested,

Police: He swung newborn overhead in carseat

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN ä A Warren man being held in the county jail pleaded not guilty Monday to misdemeanor and felony charges after an off-duty police officer saw him swing his newborn baby over his head while the infant was strapped into a car seat, according to court and police records.

Police said they had stopped David A. Moore Jr., 23, earlier in the day for reckless driving, one of the misdemeanor charges he acquired.

A short time later, officers wrote that they were called to 2325 Plaza Ave. N.E. because a âmale was still agitated and was now swinging a baby carriage around in the parking lot.ã

A witness told police that after he got the ticket, Moore, 1681 Oakdale Drive N.W., started yelling at anyone around and became violent. Police wrote that Moore has a history of domestic violence.

Samantha Spencer, the babyás mother, said Moore pushed her up against a wall. When she tried to run away with the baby, Spencer told police, he grabbed the carriage and started swinging the newborn around in the car seat.

That was when, police state, an unnamed off-duty police officer intervened, flashing a badge and telling Moore to calm down. Spencer, 23, then had a chance to grab the baby in the car seat and place him in her motherás car.

The child was uninjured and the municipal court issued a protection order against Moore.

Moore is charged with felony domestic violence and misdemeanor endangering children, he is due back in Judge Thomas Gysegemás court April 14.

rfox@tribtoday.com

Sheriff: No outside investigation needed

Sheriff: No outside investigation needed

compiling cost analysis of free surplus equipment program

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN ä Trumbull County Sheriff Tom Altiere said he will not be asking another law enforcement agency to conduct an external investigation into alleged misuse of equipment acquired mostly for free in a federal surplus program.

The program allows law enforcement agencies across the country to browse through items government no longer needs, that have already been paid for with federal tax dollars, and select equipment they can justify a need for. Law enforcement agencies need only to pay the cost to transport items like trucks, guns, cold weather clothing, ATVs, boats, tools and bucket trucks from military bases in the region. The office has estimated the value of the free stuff at $2 million.

Altiere said Major Tom Stewartás internal investigation, in addition to uncovering any wrong doing, will oversee a financial analysis of the program and perhaps create a database detailing the state of the equipment. Some have criticized the sheriffás acquisition of vehicles that do not work, but maintenance workers are allowed to, under the program, use parts from other free tools and trucks to fix the items.

Craig Batzer is the Columbus liaison in charge of the monitoring the program for the Ohio Department of Public Safety, he conducted a surprise audit on the sheriff's office use, storage and record keeping of free stuff in August.

His audit uncovered no wrongdoing from the programás perspective.

âWhile there are certain qualifications used to regulate the distribution of the equipment, the discretion of the use of it is up to the department that signs for it,ã Batzer said.

His office does not have the authority to launch an investigation, although another audit has been scheduled for this month, at the request of the sheriffás office.

Warren council member John Brown, D-3rd Ward, said he accompanied deputy Ty Kata, the man who has led the officeás acquisition of about 1,000 items, on a trip to pick up numerous vehicles in a late January trip.

Brown said he, Zachary Svette, operations director of Trumbull County MetroParks, Kata and another deputy left for the Navy base in Norfolk, Va. at 9:30 p.m. to pick up four trucks and an ATV. They traveled all night, Brown said, and stopped only to get the vehicles and eat a fast food lunch, even though a blizzard was raging on the way back.

âI said, hey, Kata, lets stop and get a hotel, it is really coming down out there,ã Brown said. âBut Kata said, àno, we gotta get back.á He was all business.ã

The group returned at 9:30 p.m. the next night, Brown said.

Altiere said that if Stewartás investigation turns up any fishy activity on Kataás part, âhe will receive an appropriate punishment for it, just like anyone else would.ã

Stewart was off sick last week, but, Altiere said, if Stewart is uncomfortable with any aspect of the program, he will invite an outside look.

Altiere said he will make a list of any other deputies that went on the 44 trips since 2011, to pickup equipment and how much money those trips cost; including labor, fuel, tolls, food and even the associated costs to repair some stuff they received that wasnát in working condition.

When asked if the sheriff plans to keep Humvees that no longer have much of a use, because the department now has many all wheel drive vehicles, Altiere said he is considering transfering two or three of the four to the Meigs County Sheriffás Office, but wants to keep at least one.

âWe donát use our guns everyday, and we pray we donát have to,ã Altiere said.

Altiere said deputies have to practice using equipment they havenát used before, and that is an acceptable use of the items.

Kata has admitted to working on a construction vehicle at his farm, something Batzer said is perfectly alright with his office.

Altiere said some of the construction equipment would have been nice to have around back in the 90s when they had to exhume bodies, âIt would have saved us a lot of time if weád had that to use.ã

Now, the backhoe and other construction vehicles will be used to help clean up environmental crimes.

âWe just had someone dump a huge pile of tires over on Griswold Avenue,ã Altiere said. âWe will use some surplus items to help in that pickupã

Some trucks, Kata said, are used as undercover vehicles by the TAG Law Enforcement Task Force, formed by Altiere and the Mahoning County Sheriffás Office in 2001.

Batzer said the office can use the equipment any way it wants to, throughout the county, as long as they retain ownership and storage records.

rfox@tribtoday.com

Heroin overdoses in Trumbull

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN ä The number of suspected heroin overdoses over a six day period in the county increased to eight over the weekend, county coroner Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk said Monday.

The problem is apparent in Trumbull Countyás biggest municipality, Warren, where there were four arrests for heroin possession between April 3 and 5. There were no arrests for trafficking in heroin.

Also in Warren, there was at least one suspected heroin overdose that led to the death of a 32-year-old York Avenue man, according to police records.

âThere was a strong suspicion of heroin overdose in this case and other cases,ã Germaniuk said. âBut we will not know for sure until the results of a tox(icology) screen come back in eight weeks.ã

Clint Beaver was discovered by his father, who told police his son, âis a known heroin addict and he knew this day was coming.ã

Germaniuk said sometimes family members sanitize the area surrounding the place a loved one died of a drug overdose, removing evidence to preserve the memory of the deceased. Sometimes police donát know a death was a result of a drug overdose.

But, when they do, law enforcement officials are asking police in all area departments to investigate the scene like any other crime, tracking down evidence and determining where the fatal dose came from.

The fatality associated with the heroin problem in the city may be exacerbated by the fact that city police do not carry Narcan, an antidote to opiate overdoses.

âWe want to provide our officers with Narcan,ã Chief Eric Merkel said. âBecause of its high cost, we may only be able to get it into the hands of supervisors.ã

Germaniuk said that for every body that comes to the morgue after an overdose, four to six people are treated for an overdose that he or she survives.

Jeffery Orr of the Trumbull Ashtabula Group Law Enforcement Task Force said a Monday meeting on the topic was closed and used to discuss undercover tactics, but that area law enforcement agencies will be coming together soon to help plan tactics to quell the epidemic of heroin use in the area.

âThere are a lot of methods we are using in TAG that I think some departments arenát aware or havenát been taking advantage of,ã Orr said. âWe want to share that information.ã

Orr said when his task force becomes aware that heroin is being sold out of a house, it is only ethical to allow it to stay open for a couple of weeks to collect evidence of drug trafficking.

Waiting more than a month to raid the house, while allowing police to collect more evidence for court, can lead to overdoses, Orr said.

Orr said the task force would gladly welcome the city of Warrenás participation in TAG effforts, and welcomes the department to consider rejoining the task force. The police department created a street crime unit a few years ago, removing its representative from TAG.

âIf we are overwhelmed by the issue, and we are, the city has to be worse off,ã Orr said. âWe have more resources, officers and money, to combat the problem.ã

In Trumbull County Common Pleas Court last week, there were six indictments for heroin possession and six for possession of other drugs or paraphernalia, there were 30 indictments total. Those charged individuals are due to be arraingned Thursday. There were no indictments in that court for trafficking drugs.

rfox@tribtoday.com

Police Taser man with warrants in Md, find stolen guns

Police Taser man with warrants in Md, find stolen guns

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN ä A man from Maryland who was shot with a Taser by police Wednesday night, is scheduled to be arraigned today in Warren Municipal Court on three felony charges and a misdemeanor, according to a police report and court documents.

Ernest Ojahrashod Williams is being held in the Trumbull County Jail and may also face extradition to Maryland for three felony theft offenses.

In Warren, Williams is charged with two felony counts of carrying a concealed weapon, one count of having weapons under disability and misdemeanor resisting arrest.

Officer Zachary Jones pulled over the vehicle Williams was a passenger in around 11 p.m. for speeding near the intersections of Austin Avenue S.W. and Palmyra Road S.W., a police report states.

When asked for his identification, Jones wrote that he became suspicious of the way Williams seemed to be hiding his face. Discovering Williams had warrants out for his arrest in Maryland, Jones said he asked Williams to step out of the vehicle.

âGo! Go! You gotta go! Just drive,ã Williams said to the driver of the car as he grabbed the gear shifter, according to Jonesá report.

Jones stated he reached across the driver, as she cried, and removed the keys from the ignition. As officers ordered him out of the car, Williams kept trying to grab the gear shift, saying, âI canát go to prison,ã the report states.

Williamsá shirt was ripped as Jones tried to grab him and remove him from the car. Jones yelled, âTaser, Taser,ã and aimed at Williamsá back, firing the Taser prongs into Williamsá jacket.

The probes never made skin contact, and did not again after a second deployment, its use was ineffective, Jones wrote in the report.

Jones was able to pull Williams out of the car and eventually subdued and cuffed him on the ground, after he used his shoulder to hit him in the chest, Jones stated.

Williams told the officers he had two guns in his waistband, a loaded Smith and Wesson and a loaded single action Ruger, both with 357 Magnum cartridges, according to the report. The Smith and Wesson was determined to have been stolen from Ann Arbor, Mich.

Emergency responders examined Williams before he was taken to the jail.

rfox@tribtoday.com

Pregnant woman assaulted

Pregnant woman assaulted,

boyfriend arrested on domestic violence charges

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN ä William H. Davis, 29, pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge of domestic violence in Warren Municipal Court.

Davisá pregnant girlfriend called police to their 1417 Front St. S.W. home Wednesday afternoon to report he had pushed her to ground, dragged her around on the floor and wouldnát let her take her 8-month-old baby with her when she left to call police at a neighbor's house, according to a police report.

Davis is being held at the county jail in lieu of $15,000 bond, and an order of protection for Emily Burr against Davis has been issued, according to court documents.

Burr told police the two had been arguing all day, she said when she slammed a door Davis became enraged and pushed her to the floor. When she got up and sat down, Burr stated, he grabbed by the ankles and pulled her to the floor, dragging her until her pants came off. Burr said she got up and tried to gather some things for herself and children to leave the home, when Davis refused to give her their 8-month-old baby or her cell phone. Burr, the officer wrote, has sole custody of the infant.Davis yelled at her to leave the house and then locked her and an older child out, according to the report.

Davis refused to answer the door for officers, but they did find the door unlocked after knocking for several minutes. They found Davis inside, holding the little boy. He initially refused to put the baby down, but did eventually and was taken into custody, officers reported.

Davis told police Burr had hit him and that he had pushed her in response, in an effort to get away from her.

Burr refused medical attention.

rfox@tribtoday.com

Marie Belcastro's daughter's 911 call

Most of the 911 call to Niles police from Marie R. Belcastroás daughter, who found Belcastro inside her Cherry Avenue, Niles, home on Tuesday. The call lasts 1 minute 20 seconds.

Police dispatcher: â911, whatás your emergency?ã

Caller: âIám at 509 Cherry St., Niles. Iám Marie Belcastroás daughter. I just walked into her house and I finally found her. She looks like sheás all smashed (unintelligible). Thereás blood in every room, it looks like her house was ransacked. I need, I donát know what I need.ã

Police dispatcher: âHow old is she?ã

Caller: âHow old is she?

Police dispatcher: âYeah.ã

Caller: âShe was 94. I think sheás dead. She looks, sheás in a twisted, sheás twisted in here in the bedroom.ã

Police dispatcher: âOK, and what, youáre at 509 Cherry?ã

Caller: âYeah, and I saw an ambulance when I walked in and saw all kind of stuff, an ambulance one block above, so I ran up there and I said, àI need someone.á I thought maybe they went to the wrong place and maybe she called them, but I think somebody came in, I know somebody came in here (unintelligible). I need people.ã

Police dispatcher: âAn ambulance is on their way over there and so is an officer.ã

911 tape, LaRosa's Niles police history

  âMother always justifies her sonás actions instead of making him take responsibility,ã Niles police officer Mike Biddlestone wrote in a report last year regarding 15-year-old Jacob LaRosa, charged with aggravated murder in the death of 94-year-old Marie Belcastro.

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

NILES ä Police here on Thursday released reports that indicate the 15-year-old boy accused of beating an elderly woman to death Tuesday has had multiple run-ins with law enforcement.

Trumbull County Coronerás Office ruled Thursday that 94-year-old Marie R. Belcastroás death was a homicide, a result of a blow to the head.

In a 911 recording also released Thursday, Belcastroás distraught daughter can be heard describing the scene at her motherás âransackedã 509 Cherry Ave. home, after arriving to find âblood in every roomã and furniture âthrown all over.ã

She said her mother looked âall smashedã and that she found her mother âtwistedã in the bedroom.

A âblunt objectã is listed as the weapon on a police incident report.

The incident report states Belcastro was found on the bedroom floor, âbloodied and deceased,ã just after 5:30 p.m. At 5:55 p.m., officers told St. Joseph Warren Hospital to hold LaRosa. He had been transported there, intoxicated and vomiting, witnesses said, after being discovered near the scene of the murder shortly before Belcastroás body was found.

LaRosa, 502 Cherry Ave., is being held at the Juvenile Justice Center and has been charged with aggravated murder. Witnesses have said Belcastro paid LaRosa to do lawn work in the past.

Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said the case should be transferred from family court into the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, where LaRosa can be tried as an adult, and prosecutors will be taking the proper legal steps to make that happen.

LaRosaás history with Niles police starts in September, 2013, the first time his mother, Megan Lucariello, reported he left and wouldnát come home, he was 14 at th time. The most recent report regarding LaRosa in February this year, before Belcastroás murder, was similar in content, when his mother asked officers to help her locate him around 1 a.m.

On Aug. 26, LaRosa was charged with receiving stolen property after officer Mike Biddlestone, who responded to six out of the 19 calls involving LaRosa, discovered him with a 76-year-old manás lawn mower, according to the report. The mower had been reported stolen from 814 Griffin Ave.

âI immediately recognized the male described (by the victim of the theft),ã Biddlestone stated. âThe juvenile has been involved in numerous, similar incidents in his neighborhood.ã

Biddlestone wrote in the report that LaRosaás mother said the boy was on house arrest, but, âhe comes and goes as he pleases.ã

âI told her she is ultimately responsible for him and needs to report such disobedient behavior to his probation officer,ã Biddlestone wrote in the report.

On Aug. 1, officers found a lawn mower that had been reported stolen from 322 Lafayette Ave. in LaRosaás driveway, but he was not charged. Lawn mowers in both incidents were returned.

In July, a report states, LaRosa was caught by neighbors throwing rocks at cars, he was not charged, but officers had to settle an argument between the Lucariello and the neighbor.

âMother has been told numerous times how to file and follow up properly with TC JJC, however, appears to fail to do so,ã Biddlestone wrote in the report. âStepfather of Jacob wanted to know if at any point she (Lucariello) should be held liable (for LaRosaás actions).ã

Biddlestone told the family that any of his guardians might be liable, but his probation officer should be consulted to find a way to change his behavior.

âMother always justifies her sonás actions instead of making him take responsibility,ã Biddlestone wrote.

On June 24, an employee at the Vienna Avenue Giant Eagle told police LaRosa was on video rifling through cars. Although LaRosa was not charged, Officer Dan Atkins stated that he faxed a copy of the incident report to Sherry Calloway, his probation officer. LaRosa claimed a boy forced him to take money from the vehicle. In October of 2013, LaRosa was caught shoplifting at the same grocery store, according to a report, and Giant Eagle told officers they would press charges, but it is unclear if they did.

Jackie Franks, a former neighbor of LaRosaás, said she had caught him stealing from a convenience store where she worked at least three times, but never filed reports.

On June 2, LaRosa was arrested for assaulting his sister. Reports state he threw a glass candle at the 7-year-old, hitting her in the head and causing a 3-inch cut that left âblood covering her face and nose.ã LaRosa had fled the scene but was picked up by officers near Niles Intermediate School after reports of kids going through a dumpster there.

In May, police responded to the school for an alleged assault LaRosa was the victim of on the basketball court, no one was charged in the incident, LaRosa claimed the other boy was the aggressor and no statements or reports with more information on the altercation were provided by police.

There are three reports from LaRosaás mother and stepfather alleging he stole equipment from their garage and electronic devices in January and March of last year.

In September of 2013, Edward LaRosa, Jacobás father, filed a police report stating his son had been forced by a one-armed 60-year-old man to smoke marijuana and take valium.

LaRosa lives with his mother, siblings and stepfather, Randall Lucariello. His father has an address on Townsend Avenue in Youngstown. All three of the phone numbers listed in police reports for LaRosaás guardians have been disconnected.

rfox@tribtoday.com

Accused Pit Stop shooters bound over

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN ä Robert Burkey, 23, and Juchard Duncan, 25, the men accused of firing three shots at the Pit Stop last month, appeared in Warren Municipal Court Thursday for a pre-trial hearing before Judge Terry Ivanchak.

Burkey, 1641 Mayfield Ave. in Youngstown, was bound over to the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on a felony charge of having weapons under disability, a charge of felonious assault was dismissed, as were some misdemeanor offenses associated with the incident. Burkey remains in county jail.

Duncan, 2263 Brier St. S.E. in Warren, also held at the jail, was bound over on a felony failure to comply with the orders of a police officer charge. Another felony charge, receiving stolen property, and a misdemeanor resisting arrest charge were dismissed.

Lt. Martin Gargas was on patrol March 24 when he saw a man get out of a vehicle, fire three shots at the gas station and convenience store, and get back in the vehicle, which took off.

Gargas gave chase. The two men abandoned the vehicle, which was determined to be stolen, on Thomas Road S.E. and ran about 150 yards into the woods.

Police officers descended upon the area and found them hiding inside an abandoned factory, the former Design Coating Systems, at 1500 Milton St.

rfox@tribtoday.com

Warren Fire promotions

There were three promotions at the fire department Wednesday. Chief Ken Nussle said those promoted have 70 years of cumulative experience. Bill Monrean was promoted to assistant chief on Wednesday, the 30-year veteran of the Warren City Fire Department is replacing Daniel Suttles, who retired Friday after 30 years of service. Monrean will supervise the third platoon, assistant fire chiefs make $27.27 an hour.

Capt. Al Brown, with just under 25 years on the force, said he hadnát realized that with his promotion he would be WFDás second African American captain in history, but that he is proud to be.
Brown said he plans to, âdo my job effectively and impact our guys in a positive way.ã
Fire captains are paid $23.74 an hour.

The public safety and service director, Enzo Cantalamessa, swore the men into their new positions. Promotions were awarded based on tests administered by the Civil Service Commission, Nussle said.
Lt. Ken Horm has been with the fire department, in various jobs, since 1995. Most recently a firefighter, Horm will now act as a ladder officer and in other leadership roles throughout the department.
Horm said he expects to learn a lot while serving in the
Lieutenants are paid $20.63 an hour.

Boy, 15, charged in Cherry Avenue murder

Boy, 15, charged in Cherry Avenue murder

Prosecutor wants to try as an adult

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

NILES ä A 15-year-old boy accused of killing a 94-year-old woman in her home Tuesday could be tried as an adult, Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins stated in a press release Wednesday.

Jacob LaRosa was arrested and charged this week with aggravated murder in the death of Marie R. Belcastro at her 509 Cherry Ave. home.

Based on her injuries and the condition her home was found in, Belcastroás death is an apparent homicide, Watkins stated.

Probable cause has been established, Watkins stated, and the case merits prosecution in an adult court. County prosecutors Chris Becker and Stanley Elkins will be responsible for the transfer of LaRosaás case into the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, LaRosa is currently in custody and appeared at a detention hearing Wednesday.

Belcastroás daughter flagged down a passing ambulance after she walked into her motherás home around 5:30 p.m. and saw blood.

A neighbor, George Frazekos, said when the emergency responder pulled into the back alley in response to the womanás concerns, LaRosa ran out a back door, covered in blood. The boy, who appeared drunk to witnesses as he was transported from the scene to St. Joseph Warren Hospital while vomiting, is also described by neighbor Michael Spencer as drunk and carrying two bottles on a surveillance video, which is attached to a garage just behind Belcastroás. Kaela LaRosa told reporters Tuesday that her brother had been drinking.

U.S. postal carrier Scott Long may have been one of the last people to see Belcastro alive, he delivered her mail Tuesday. Long said she was a nice woman and he had been delivering her mail for the last nine years.

Neighbors have said Belcastro had lived in the neighborhood longer than anyone else, the home was built in 1950 and county auditor records show the Belcastros owned the home at least since 1990, online records donát indicate ownership pre-1990.

Niles police have not yet released a report on the incident, and officials have said that now that the case is in the hands of prosecutors they will not comment.

âShe gave kids in the neighborhood cookies,ã neighbor Kelly Porter said Wednesday. âI just donát get it, why didnát I hear anything? Why did he have to kill her?ã

Porter said the neighborhood is shaken up and she feels violated. LaRosa, neighbors said, lived just a few doors down. Porter said the neighborhood has turned into one where most of the residents come and go, but Belcastro has been a constant.

The suspectás sister, Kaela Larosa, said her brother was just released from the Juvenile Justice Center on Tuesday. She told reporters Tuesday she thinks her brother was set up by some boys that were bullying him.

âThis could have been prevented,ã Frazekos said. âI think everyone knew this kid was causing disturbances in the neighborhood

rfox@tribtoday.com

Dog walker shot in leg

Man shot in leg

at Milton and Hazelwood

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN ä A 34-year-old Youngstown man was transported to Trumbull Memorial Hospital after being shot at least once in the leg near the intersections Milton Street S.E. and Hazelwood Avenue S.E. Wednesday around 6 p.m., police said.

Tyrone Lamar Henderson told Lt. Martin Gargas he was walking his dog with two friends when he heard a man shout, âhey!ã

Henderson said he turned around, didnát recognize the two men who were standing in the middle of the street and then turned to keep walking.

Then, Henderson said, he heard gunshots and ran until he was struck in the leg and fell. He then stood up and ran to a friendás house on Burton Street. Nine 9x19mm shell casings and one âlead projectileã was recovered by police at the scene.

Police are looking for two suspects, the first is described as a thin, average height, light-skinned, bi-racial man with no facial hair, between the ages of 18 and 22; who was wearing an olive green jacket, a blue shirt, dirty jeans and a dirty baseball cap.

The other suspect is also described as a light-skinned, bi-racial man, approximately 30 years old, average height and weight; who wore a white hoodie with the hood up and green jeans.

Henderson and the other witnesses told police they didnát recognize the men, but the man in the green jacket held the black handgun.

Six officers responded, police checked the area and stopped a couple of vehicles, but did not find the suspects.

A police call log indicates witnesses saw a man in a white hoodie walking south on Niles Road.

Scanner traffic indicated a witness to the shooting followed a red Pontiac G6 or G5 to Orchard Avenue, and that the suspects might have traveled into Howland.

rfox@tribtoday.com

Grand jury indicts 30 in Trumbull County

Grand jury indicts 30 in Trumbull County

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN ä A total of 30 people were indicted Tuesday by a Trumbull County grand jury, including five people who were secretly indicted. Those names will be revealed after arrests are made.

Among those facing felony charges and scheduled to be arraigned 9 a.m. April 9 by Common Pleas Judge Andrew Logan are:

ö Robert C. Dash Jr., 56, Matta Avenue, Youngstown, gross sexual imposition;

ö Brian Parrado, 32, Church Street, Roanoke, Va., 16 counts of receiving stolen property, 16 counts of identity fraud, and possession of a fictitious driverás license;

ö James Alvin Rodgers, 62, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Warren, possession of cocaine;

ö Jesse Rae Deramo, 34, Bristol Champion Townline Road, Warren, theft.

ö Lisa Marie Seal, 28, Newton Drive, Newton Falls, possession of heroin, possessing drug abuse instruments;

ö Cory Alexander Fusco, 25, Jackson Street, Campbell, telecommunications fraud;

ö Aswad Delmar Fleming, 25, West Avenue N.W., Warren, failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer;

ö Savanna M. Youngblood, 28, Brown Street, Niles, possession of drugs and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia;

ö Chauncey Terrell Higgs, 24, Burlington, Youngstown, having weapons while under disability and unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance;

ö Joshua P. Marshall, 22, Bushnell Campbell Road, Kinsman, possession of heroin;

ö Jujan Lamont Pinkard, 21, Locust Avenue, Youngstown, unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance and possessing a defaced firearm;

ö Charles Glenn Lampley, 31, Monticello Avenue N.W., Warren, carrying a concealed weapon;

ö Glenn Eric Stephens, 49, Cleveland Avenue, Warren, possession of heroin;

ö Christine Joan DeJute, 31, Lafayette Avenue, Niles, possession of heroin and aggravated possession of drugs;

ö Raymond A. Ser Jr., 35, Crawford Drive, Hermitage, Pa., two counts of menacing by stalking and domestic violence;

ö Ahmad Basel Omar, 30, Starlite Street N.W., carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle;

ö Dalton C. Bunker, 18, McCleary Jacoby Road, Cortland, aggravated possession of drugs and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia;

ö Jason S. Dunkle-Thacker, 20, East Judson Avenue, Youngstown, possession of drugs;

ö Jerami Dion Wells, 24, Aris Street N.W., Warren, possession of heroin;

ö Timothy Walter Adkins, 30, Prentice Road, Warren, burglary;

ö Zachary Tyler Keeley, 24, Hyde Avenue, Niles, burglary;

ö Brittany Nicole Gromley, 24, Federal Street, Warren, possession of heroin and possession of drugs;

ö Robert LeRoy Durst Jr., 52, North River Road, possession of cocaine and illegal use of possession of drug paraphernalia;

ö Lonnie Hill, 45, Prospect Street, Warren, aggravated possession of drugs;

ö Tion Keneyot Stubbs, 38, Parkman Road, failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer.

The grand jury chose not to indict the following:

ö Scott E. Rockenfelder Jr., 25, Royal Mall, Niles, burglary;

ö Aleska L. Coviello, 22, Virginia Trail, Youngstown, aggravated robbery;

ö Fleming, possession of heroin;

ö Marshall, possessing drug abuse instruments and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia;

ö Bunker, carrying a concealed weapon;

ö Gromley, illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto grounds of specified government facility.

An examination: 1033 in the county sheriff's office

The sheriffás office has been acquiring government surplus for the cost of transportation since 2011.

Deputies have made 44 trips to bases in neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Virginia, and as far away as Georgia to pick up items like flood lights, trucks, M-16s, clothing and Humvees.

2011: 3 trips for 350 items

2012: 11 trips for 246 items

2013: 7 trips for 20 items

2014: 18 trips for 219 items

2015: 5 trips so far this year for 163 items

An examination: 1033 in the county sheriff's office

Government surplus

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN ä A federal give-a-way program has allowed the Trumbull County Sheriffás Office to procure nearly one thousand surplus items the government no longer needs, but the program has come under scrutiny for possible unofficial use, storage and need of the equipment.

Deputy Ty Kata, of Bristol, has been spearheading the officeás participation. Run by the Department of Defense, the surplus program is an effort to, âprovide logistics support to state and local government agencies participating in counter drug, homeland security and emergency response activity,ã according an overview provided by the Defense Logistics Agency.

âThis program has benefited us immensely,ã Sheriff Tom Altiere said. âIt has helped with budget restraints, and kept us afloat, especially the vehicles.ã

A few trucks have been procured for undercover use, another used for plowing snow in the winter and towing a boat in the summer. The large Ford 650, and a surplus boat, helped the sheriffás office procure a grant for a marine patrol, Kata said. The grant will pay 75 percent of the cost to patrol Mosquito Lake on weekends and holidays in the summers, a grant Kata said the office would not have received if they didnát have the proper equipment, which they obtained for nearly nothing.

âWe want to be a proactive force, not a reactive force,ã Kata said. âIt is better to have this equipment, now, for free, then to realize we need it and not have it.ã

A transport van Kata acquired in 2013 cost about $500 to transport and then paint, outfitted with an older radio and cage; compared to a similar model purchased by the office for over $30,000, Kata said.

A number of salt dispensers and vehicles to load and distribute it were also acquired, the equipment was used county-wide, justified as necessary to the office for improved roadway safety for officers.

âI have selected items in the interest of making law enforcement safer and more effective,ã Kata said. âOur maintenance guys can use the truck to plow snow anywhere in the county, not just our parking lot, as long as we (sheriffás office) maintain ownership.ã

There are other items that really donát have a use anymore, like a small fleet of Humvees that were obtained in 2011 and 2012, before most cruisers had all-wheel drive, Kata said. Kata admits, they mostly sit in a parking lot now, but they are good back up.

âAny time we need to raid a marijuana field, or investigate something in the back roads, we will need those vehicles, you canát drive an SUV into a field or woods,ã Kata said.

An overview of the 1033 program indicates Humvees are for counter-terrorism and counter-drug use and should be given to another agency if they are not needed.

The internal investigation Altiere has opened up will look into where some of this equipment was stored and repaired, and whether or not it was used to lay manure down on an employeeás farm or in other personal ways.

On Friday, Kata said some of the heavy equipment, including a back hoe, has to be âplayed with so we know how to use it when we need it.ã

The items offered from nearby bases cost only the time, gas and tolls it takes to get to the base and bring it back. But participants often do not know exactly what they are going to pick up, and items often need repairs. Kata and other deputies have made over 40 trips to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and as far away as Georgia, since 2011.

âTax payers have already paid for this stuff, it is being used to improve the way we serve them,ã Kata said.

Kata usually travels by himself, unless he needs another driver to bring back a working vehicle. He said, on an average trip he turns in receipts for about $120 in fuel costs, a little more when he travels toll roads.

On Thursday, Kata said the only time he has stayed over night was on a trip to Georgia to pick up nine multi-fuel motorcycles March, last year. The motorcycles were lightly used, but in need of repairs and fluids. The motorcycles have not been used for official business yet, but they were being worked on, until the weather grew cold, Kata said. His goal is to get as many of the motorcycles into working condition as possible and then assign them to individual deputies, as is the plan for the nine ATVs. Some of the vehicles will need to be cannibalized to get them into working order.

âThe pick-up cost of these items is small, most of the expense comes from parts, repairs and maintenance,ã Kata said.

The first few items Kata ordered were snowblowers and weed trimmers, used by prisoners around the county. Many of the items were not in working condition. Kata said students in classes at Trumbull Career and Technical Center practiced small engine repair on the tools, learning to determine with ones to cannibalize and which ones to save with parts.

Law enforcement agencies must fill out justification forms after selecting an item, once the request is approved, a representative from the agency has 14 days to pick it up. Departments are not allowed to sell the items, but they can give them back or to other law enforcement agencies. Kata said he has become friendly with coordinators on the bases he frequents, sometimes he calls them to find out if an item listed in the database is really worth going to get. A lot of times he goes into the deal blind.

âWe get a lot of good equipment out of the programä not all of it is goodä but what is good we use,ã Altiere said.

Spotlights was Kataás most recent acquisition, they havenát been used yet, and are sitting out in a parking lot, but they could illuminate a night-time crime scene, Kata said.

âWe use this stuff, maybe not every day, but we use it,ã Kata said.

Descriptions of the items are categorical, any item that comes from the kitchen is called âkitchen equipmentã with no further information. Trucks and utility vehicles are identified as such, but no information about their working condition is included, or what types of repairs they may need. Kata said he often brings belts, batteries and other things with him to pick-up vehicles.

A tool box is listed on the site as a âtool kit,ã that can be anything from a small, metal and empty handy-man tool box, or a large tough box filled with a useful, if slightly incomplete, ratchet set or other tools.

A random audit in August, from the state program coordinator in Columbus, found no problems with how the items are being used or stored, Major Harold Firster said. And, Firster said, they have requested an additional audit.

Altiere is expected to release an analysis of over-time and other costs associated with the trips and surplus program soon.

rfox@tribtoday.com