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  Suspect In Catalytic Converter Theft Avoids Arrest, Walks Out Of Hospital  
  July 7, 2022 Edition  
     BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      A suspect in the theft of a catalytic converter avoided his arrest last week by walking out of Mercy Health/Youngstown where he was lodged under a ‘police hold.’
      Leslie James Tate, 35, of 107 North Belle Vista, Youngstown, had been taken to the hospital for treatment of a staff infection, after he was charged with theft of a catalytic converter, criminal damaging and possession of drug abuse instruments on June 30.
      When first charged, police transported Tate to the Mahoning County Jail.
      “Tate was declined lodging due to a leg infection and was taken to Mercy Health/Youngstown,” Ptl. William Woods said.
      At Mercy Health/Youngstown, the medical staff in the emergency department told police that Tate had a staff infection in his right calf, and advised he would need to be admitted to treat his injuries, Ptl. Troy Mackall said, adding that Mercy Health PD was advised a ‘police hold’ was placed on Tate.
      “I further advised Tate he was not to leave the hospital prior to being transported to the Mahoning County Jail, or he would face an additional charge of escape,” Officer Mackall said.
      Eight hours later, at 10:00 p.m., police were told Tate escaped from Mercy Health.
      “BPD dispatch advised that Mercy Health Main Campus PD called, stating that Tate ‘walked out’ of the hospital approximately an hour ago,” Ptl. Earl Neff said.
      Tate came to the attention of Boardman police following a call about 10:20 a.m. on June 30 that a catalytic converter was being stolen from a vehicle in the rear parking lot of the Little Greek restaurant, 220 Boardman-Canfield Rd.
      When police went to the call, they spoke with a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier who said he had seen a man “running between apartments” on nearby Locust Ave.
      During a canvass of the area, Sgt. Paul Grimes found a blue and white bag that contained a catalytic converter and a battery-powered saw. Police also located surveillance footage that showed a man crawling underneath a car.
      About two hours later, police received a tip that a man had been spotted ‘looking through car ports’ on Locust Ave., and the man was also going door-to-door, asking people if they had seen the blue and white bag.
      While checking the tip, Ptl. Patrick Klingensmith observed a car leaving an apartment building lot of Locust Ave. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was identified as Walter Colon. A front seat passenger was identified as Dessie Howell, 30, of 129 Jean St., Campbell, Oh. Police said in the rear seat was Tate.
      “When Howell was ordered out of the front passenger seat, he reached over his left side and was fidgeting with something between the seat and center console...A loaded firearm (9mm handgun) was...located between the seat and console,” Ptl. Mike Dado said.
      Colon told police he is a “private-type Uber driver” who had been contacted by Howell to pick him up on Louis St. in Youngstown, and then ‘pick-up some friends’ and take them to a motel in Trumbull County.
      “He advised that he picked Howell up...[and]...took him to a motel in Boardman where they picked-up Tate, whom he did not know; then took ‘them’ to an apartment on Locust Ave. where Tate got out and started looking in a dumpster.”
      A female told police she is Tate’s girlfriend and they had been staying at the Wagon Wheel Motel in Boardman.
      She told police she had ‘walked to the store and just got back’ to their motel room when Tate told her ‘he needed to go somewhere to get something off a guy.’
      Police said a witness to the theft of the catalytic converter “positively” identified Tate as a suspect in the theft.
      Police said a search of the vehicle that had been stopped coming out of a Locust Ave. parking lot turned-up a “hypodermic needle on the rear seat where Tate was seated.” Tate was additionally charged with possession of a drug abuse instrument.
      Police said Howell has a record as a convicted felon, and when placed under arrest, Ptl. Dado said the suspect was concealing something in his hand.
      “The white substance was field-tested positive as 10.3 grams of fentynal,” Ptl. Jamison Diglaw said.
      Howell was charged with having weapons under a disability, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and felony possession of drugs and taken to the county jail pending his appearance in court.
      Tate, as well as a woman identified Shayla Patrice Demar, 29, are facing charges for reportedly stealing the catalytic converter from a car parked in a hospital parking lot in New Castle, Pa. in March.
 
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