AKRON
Suspect nabbed
AKRON: An Akron man is accused of forcing his way inside the home of a 96-year-old woman and robbing her of cash.
Daniel Roy Spiegel, 41, was arrested on charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.
Akron police said Spiegel went to the East Dresden Avenue home of the elderly woman, an acquaintance, about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. He told her he was cold and wanted to come inside, according to a report.
The woman declined to let the man inside and closed her door.
That’s when police said Spiegel kicked open the door, knocking the woman down.
The man then went inside, found her purse and took about $160 before fleeing, police said. The woman was not injured.
Spiegel was arrested Friday and is being held in the Summit County Jail.
Worker attacked
AKRON: A 65-year-old woman was assaulted and choked during a robbery Friday inside an Akron antiques store.
The Retro Home Decor worker passed out twice during the attack, but declined to be taken to a hospital.
The robber has not been identified.
The woman told police the man came to the store, at 451 W. Market St., about 5:30 p.m. trying to sell spoons.
She told the man the store is in the process of shutting down and was not buying items.
The man left the store, only to return minutes later and attack the woman.
According to the officer’s report, the woman told police she was knocked to the floor and choked until she was unconscious.
When she awoke, the man demanded money and assaulted her again, choking her until she passed out.
The man took about $120 and fled.
Police describe the robber as a medium-complexioned black man in his 50s. He has graying hair and wore a black coat, a red shirt and dark pants.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Akron police at 330-375-2490. Anonymous tips for this or any crime may be left at http://ci.akron.oh.us/ASP/tip.html.
Information may also be provided anonymously by calling Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS (2677). Tipsters may qualify for a cash reward.
Suspect in robbery
AKRON: A man who robbed an Akron credit union Saturday might have robbed a Cuyahoga Falls bank Sunday, police said.
Steven Charles D’Agostine, 43, of Tallmadge, was arrested without incident at a house on Nieman Street in Akron. He was being held in the Summit County Jail.
The Akron robbery took place about 9 a.m. Saturday at the Gen Fed Credit Union, 2492 Wedgewood Drive.
Police said the robber handed the teller a note indicating he had a gun and demanding money.
A Huntington Bank was robbed Sunday in Cuyahoga Falls.
An anonymous tipster identified D’Agostine as a suspect, and detectives used the information to make the arrest, police said.
Talk on recycling
AKRON: Council members Jeff Fusco and Marilyn Keith will hold a joint community meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Resnik Community Learning Center, 65 N. Meadowcroft Drive.
Representatives of the city’s sanitation department and Keep Akron Beautiful will discuss a new recycling education campaign aimed at increasing the public’s understanding of what’s recyclable and what isn’t.
LeBron trip
AKRON: The LeBron James Grandmothers’ Fan Club will host a Bus Trip to Cleveland for the Cleveland Cavaliers- Miami Heat game March 20.
The bus will depart from Wooster-Hawkins Plaza, directly behind AutoZone at 5:30 p.m. with game time at 7 p.m. and board at the completion of the game.
The cost is $100 and includes bus transportation and a Cavs game ticket.
A deposit of $50 is due by March 4.
Bingo games, raffles and snacks will be provided.
For tickets, contact Adler Chapman at 330-784-2544 or Rose Porter at 330-666-2912.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Pre-St. Pat’s event
AKRON: The campaign to Keep Judge Katarina Cook for the Akron Municipal Court will host a “17 days ’til St. Patrick’s Day” fundraiser from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the St. Brendan’s Hibernian Club, 753 N. Main St.
Tickets, available at the door, will be $25 and will include four drink tickets and day membership.
For more information, call 330-836-6620 or go to the www.JudgeKatarinaCook.com website.
GREEN
Body found
GREEN: A body was found in a wooded area behind an auto dealership off South Arlington Road in Green on Monday afternoon.
Summit County Sheriff’s deputies were called to investigate the discovery of a man’s body in a field near the roadway, inspector Bill Holland said.
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office said foul play is not suspected in the death.
STATE NEWS
Work on I-71
COLUMBUS: Ohio’s Highway Department says work is underway to expand the only two-lane section left on Interstate 71 between Columbus and Cleveland.
The Ohio Department of Transportation said work on the three-phase project has already begun in northern Morrow County, with another project scheduled to start this week.
The Columbus Dispatch reported Monday that the final leg will be finished in 2015, with $144 million spent to widen the final 25 miles.
News four years ago that the state ran out of money to finish that stretch upset local officials. Most of the route to Cleveland is now three lanes.
ODOT spokeswoman Nancy Burton says the state has enough money for the project from cuts, staff retirements and agency efficiencies.
— Associated Press
WINDHAM TOWNSHIP
Spice arrests
WINDHAM TWP.: Authorities arrested a Portage County father and son whom they say operated a distribution point for a synthetic form of marijuana called “Spice.”
Samuel Jason Larlham, 41, and Kyle J. Larlham, 19, of the 9000 block of state Route 303, were taken into custody after the Portage County Drug Task Force obtained a search warrant Wednesday.
The unit had received a tip about possible drug activity at the residence, according to the Portage County Sheriff’s Office.
Samuel Larlham was charged with trafficking in marijuana and having weapons under disability. Kyle Larlham was charged with trafficking in marijuana.
During the search, Task Force Agents recovered enough products to produce approximately 6 pounds of Spice, along with heroin, drug paraphernalia and firearms.
Spice or “K2” is said to give the user a marijuana-like high.
Sold in shops and online as incense, it is being smoked as a legal alternative to marijuana.
Both suspects were booked into the Portage County Jail.