Saturday, April 17, 2010

Murder suspect caught at gunpoint



By JO ANN BOBBY-GILBERT (jgilbert@reviewonline.com)
POSTED: April 17, 2010

WELLSVILLE - A 23-year-old man wanted for aggravated murder by Youngstown police was taken into custody at gunpoint in the village Friday with assistance from several law enforcement agencies.
Thomas Wright, 230 E. Ravenswood, Youngstown, was served with warrants for aggravated murder and aggravated robbery and surrendered without incident at 221 Walden Ave., according to Wellsville police. He had no weapons, according to reports.
Village police officers assisted the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, county sheriff's office, county drug task force and Youngstown police at the scene, surrounding the mobile home with guns drawn.
Although the owner of the property was not immediately identified, police said the last name is Coles, and drug task force Director Dan Downard said the home is known to his agency for suspected drug activity.
"They anticipated some drug activity but we didn't find any," Downard said, adding, "We've been at that house before and had a working knowledge of the residence."
He said when dealing with a suspect of a serious crime, all precautions are taken and the task force was asked to provide manpower as "more of a mutual aid thing."
Members of the drug task force as well as the sheriff's department belong to the Violent Fugitive Task Force as well, according to Downard.
According to information obtained from Youngstown police, Wright is accused of shooting Rodney Weaver, 25, Catalina Avenue, Youngstown, Jan. 12 of this year on Lexington Avenue in the city.
Youngstown police alleged Wright shot Weaver while attempting to rob him, resulting in the aggravated robbery charge. Waver was pronounced dead a short time later at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.
Wright was transported to a Youngstown jail, according to Wellsville police.

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