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Suspected of shoplifting $1,500 jar of marijuana, midnight bicyclist arrested in Boardman

[image] Alphonso West

 A Boardman man was arrested on his bicycle just after midnight Monday on an active theft warrant stemming from an October 2024 incident where he allegedly stole a jar of marijuana from a local business.

A Youngstown man stopped for a traffic violation while riding his bicycle in Boardman ended up in jail after police found he was wanted for allegedly stealing 112 grams of marijuana from a township business.

Police say Alphonso West, 56, was taken into custody after an officer reported seeing him riding a bicycle erratically on Southern Boulevard.

According to a Boardman Police report, an officer pulled over West's bicycle for failing to stay on the right side of the roadway. West initially refused to provide identification, disputing the legality of the stop.  The officer eventually learned West’s name and found he was wanted for theft.

The warrant originated from an incident on Oct. 18, 2024, at a business on Mathews Road.  A witness told police that West picked up a 112-gram jar of marijuana valued at $1,500, removed its safety seal, and left the store without paying. The witness, who recognized West as a frequent customer, provided surveillance footage and a Facebook profile matching West's description.

Police redacted the name of the store from the report.

West was arrested on the warrant and received a citation for the traffic violation. He was booked into the Mahoning County Jail. A family member picked up West's bicycle.

West appeared for arraignment on Tuesday in Mahoning County Court.  A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1.


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