8176 Nicholas St., Masury
One of the two people arrested for being in an abandoned Masury house neither of them owned claimed in recorded jailhouse conversations that she was set up.
Angelina Armes. Contributed photo.
Angelina L. Armes, 40, of Hubbard, said the house at 8176 Nicholas St. is a “trap house” equipped with cameras that were installed by the police to “meet a quota.”
“We don’t do that,” said Police Chief Aaron Kasiewicz. “We don’t have any property that we maintain. We don’t have a quota.”
Police said they were dispatched March 1 with a report that people who had arrived in a blue Chevrolet Cobalt were inside the house. The house has been abandoned for some time and an entry door is off its hinges.
Police said they first encountered Armes, who told them it was a really nice house and she was just exploring it. She also said she was attempting to take paper and plastic repair pieces from the house, police said.
Armes denied having a gun or any items that could harm police, and said that her friend Brad had been inside but had left, police said. A search of Armes’ backpack turned up a set of brass knuckles and a loaded .22-caliber pistol, police said.
John Grzejka. Contributed photo.
Police continued searching the house and found John J. Grzejka, 45, of Boardman, also in the house. Grzejka said he had methamphetamine in his pocket and police confiscated it. Police said they also discovered Grzejka was wanted by Mercer County for absconding probation on convictions for forgery and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Neighbors told police that three people had been in the house, but a third person was not found, police said.
The meth has been sent to a crime lab for testing.
During the recorded jail calls, Armes said she had been in the house for about an hour prior to police arrival; that she had her “four-shot” handgun on her; had just bought the Cobalt, which was not registered to her; and denied taking anything. She also said she was not worried about being charged with breaking and entering because the house was abandoned and did not have an owner.
The Trumbull County auditor lists the owner as Brian E. Gwin of Pulaski, Pa.
Grzejka and Armes each were charged with felony breaking and entering. Armes also has been charged with misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon. The charges have been bound over to a grand jury.
Prior to the incident, Brookfield’s code enforcement officer sent a letter to Gwin informing him the property violates the township’s exterior property maintenance code and asking him to rectify the deficiencies.
