Sept. 16: Elijah Junior Taylor, 45, of 346 Mistletoe, Youngstown, Oh., (a home with a $3.11 annual property tax) charged with two counts of theft (Burlington Coat Factory and Ollie’s in the Boardman Plaza) and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of possession of criminal tools.
      According to records of the Mahoning County Court systems, Taylor has a record of 60 convictions for property crimes dating back to 1998.
      Among those convictions was on Mar. 13, 2024 when Taylor was found guilty of theft and sentenced to 333 days in jail. County Court Judge Scott Hunter noted in a judgement entry dated Aug. 15, 2024 that prior to serving the 333 days, Taylor was “sent to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) with an out date of Aug. 15, 2024. The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department was notified...the defendant (Taylor) was sent to The Ohio State University Hospital from the Corrections Reception Center and surgery was performed; and that Taylor will be released from the custody of the ODRC [on Aug. 15],” adding that Taylor had been instructed to return to the OSU hospital in two weeks for a follow-up appointment,
      “In light of the foregoing and for good cause shown, Taylor’s sentence herein to be suspended at this time,” Judge Hunter said, adding that “Taylor shall self report to the Mahoning County Justice Center (jail) when he is medically cleared and shall serve his 333 days previously imposed on Mar. 14, 2024. If Taylor fails to report, a bench warrant shall be issued.”
      In Taylor’s most recent incident with Boardman police, officers were told a suspect whom a Burlington Coat Factory identified as Taylor, selected towels and several bed sheet sets valued at $154.89 and then went to a register and attempted to return the items. “When he wasn’t able to produce a receipt for the return, he stated he would just keep the items and exited the store without making an attempt to pay for anything,” Ptl. Jeff Lytle said.
      During a search incident to his arrest, police said Taylor was found to be in possession of a suspected crack pipe, as well as numerous packages of candy that were from Ollie’s in the Boardman Plaza.
      Taylor was placed into handcuffs and then into a police cruiser. “While in the back of the cruiser, Taylor began to complain of having a panic attack and was transported by Lanes Lifetrans to Mercy Health/Boardman. Once released from the hospital, Taylor was taken to the county jail. “Taylor slept most of the way,” Sgt. Glenn Patton said.
      Then, according to police, once at the jail “Taylor would not wake up,” so after verifying the suspect had a pulse and was breathing, an ambulance was summoned and a deputy administered two doses of naloxone to the man, who then “was more responsive,” Sgt. Patton said, adding “It should be noted, according to medics, Taylor would talk with them, and then when he saw me, he would lay down and become unresponsive.”
      Taylor was then taken by ambulance to Mercy Health/Youngstown for further evaluation. Once cleared by the medical staff, Ptl. Makenzie Butcherine took Taylor back to the county lock-up for booking.
      “The medical staff at the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office deemed that Taylor was still impaired and would not accept him for booking. Taylor was drooling on himself, he could barely walk or talk, and his body would spasm every couple minutes,” Officer Butcherine said, adding the jail’s medical staff requested that Taylor be taken back to Mercy Health/Youngstown for a re-evaluation.
      Once back at the hospital, Officer Butcherine reported “The general nurse in charge of Taylor suspects that Taylor may be faking his symptoms to avoid being booked into the jail, based on her medical experiences and observing Taylor’s behaviors.”
      Eight hours after the incident at Burlington Coat Factory, Taylor was still at Mercy Health/Youngstown. Officer Butcherine noted “During Taylor’s time within the hospital, he had leg shackles attached to one of his ankles and the other end to attached to the bed, in an attempt to prevent his escape.”
      On Sat., Sept. 21 at 7:16 a.m., Ptl. Evan Beil said he had obtained information that Taylor “absconded from Mercy Health/Youngstown.”
      Officer Beil noted on Sept. 20, that “Taylor may have had contact with Hermitage police after he was found inside of a stolen vehicle with another party. He did not face any charges from that incident.”