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Police and Court Reports

POLICE

Sheriff’s Office — A man on Unity Line Road, Unity Township, reported at 4:26 p.m. Wednesday that per his bank, he put a check in the mailbox at the New Waterford Post Office, West Main Street, New Waterford, for $3,708 made out to Capital One and someone cashed the check at an unknown different bank. — A woman on Unity Line Road, Unity Township, reported at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday that on Jan. 3, someone entered her unlocked shed and stole a chainsaw and multiple tools. — A representative of Mahoning County Habitat for Humanity, Youngstown, requested a welfare check at 1:55 ...

THE COURTS

Municipal LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, a preliminary hearing was set Jan. 14 for Daniel A. Dochterman, 58, last known address West Wilson Street, Salem, charged with breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly making entry into a residence in Salem on Jan. 6. The victim said no one should have been there and he wanted to press charges. A pretrial was set March 24 for Matthew Miller, 35, Taylor Road, Negley, charged with domestic violence for allegedly being verbally and physically abusive to a woman, grabbing, hitting or pinching her on her arms, ...

POLICE

Salem — Officers responded to the area of East State Street at 12:20 a.m. Wednesday for a reported suspicious vehicle. The caller advised an unknown person had been driving in circles in the area for more than two hours while honking. Officers checked the area and several surrounding streets but did not locate the vehicle. — Officers responded to the 1000 block of Cleveland Street at 10:27 p.m. Tuesday for a reported domestic in progress. Officers spoke with both parties and were advised that there had been an argument after which one party began striking themselves while the ...

THE COURTS

Municipal LISBON — In Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, cases against Richard Joseph Sweger, 56, Darlington, Pa., were bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution for allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website of an adult female trafficking a minor female and arranging for sexual activity with both females in exchange for $260 an hour for four or five hours, then traveling to East Palestine on Dec. 28, 2025 for the meeting ...

POLICE

Salem — Officers responded to the 700 block of East Fifth Street at 4:09 a.m. Sunday for a reported domestic. The caller advised that they had come to the residence to pick up their daughter, who had been assaulted by her boyfriend. Officers spoke with the daughter who advised that she and her boyfriend had gotten into a physical altercation after an argument and had sustained an injury to her mouth causing her lips to swell. The fire department and EMT responded to tend to them, and due to their intoxication, a follow-up investigation will be conducted. — William I. Shasteen, ...

THE COURTS

Municipal LISBON — In Columbiana County Municipal Court, cases against Mberwa Murjani Mberwa, 23, Pittsburgh, Pa., were bound over to the county grand jury for third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution. He was accused of allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website of an adult mother trafficking her minor daughter and arranging for sexual activity with both females in exchange for $100, then arriving in East Palestine on Oct. 24 for the meeting with the phone used to ...