51-year-old accused of damaging bakery

AUSTINTOWN -- A man found injured behind a local apartment building faces criminal charges in connection with a November burglary at a local bakery.

On Tuesday, police arrested Benjamin C. Richards, 51, of Jackson Township, after he was found in the carport behind a home on Callaway Circle, nursing a bleeding knee. The Austintown police report states that Richards was found to have warrants through Austintown, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Mahoning County Sheriff's Office.

Austintown police arrested him on their warrant for breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony, and felony charges of vandalism and possession of criminal tools. Court records do not show any updates in his cases.

In late November, police responded to Butter Maid Bakery on Victoria Road after the owner found that two of his refrigeration units had been damaged. The report states police saw copper pipe that ran from the units to the roof had been pulled away from the building. The owner said more than 160 pounds of freon coolant had been lost, causing his refrigerators to stop working.

Surveillance video showed a man carrying some kind of bag approach the area and try to rip the copper pipes off the building. He left after failing to remove any of the copper.

The same man was seen the next day, pushing around a shopping cart up Victoria Road, near the business. The man, who identified himself as Richards, told police he was near the bakery because "he stashed his stuff there."

In the man's bag, police found a reciprocating saw with blades, a screwdriver, bolt cutters, and a "Scream" Ghost Face mask. All of the items were taken for evidence.

Court records show Richards was charged and a warrant issued for his arrest on Nov. 29 in that case. On Dec. 1, the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office also filed charges for the same charges in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, but originated in Youngstown Municipal Court and appear to stem from a separate incident. Richards failed to appear for an arraignment on Jan. 9, and a warrant was issued for his arrest the next day.