WARREN -- A Tod Avenue man police last year tracked to California because they believed he shot another man is again behind bars, this time accused in a home invasion in which a pregnant woman was pushed down a flight of stairs.
Julius McKinney, 23, 2647 Tod Ave. N.W., turned himself into police about 11 a.m. Monday on aggravated burglary charges stemming from an incident where three people, including one with a gun, broke into a home June 11 at 1735 Edgewood St. N.E.
He entered no plea at his initial appearance in Warren Municipal Court and was ordered held without bond.
Rakia Henderson, 22, who is pregnant, told police three men pushed her down the stairs and struck Nicholas A. Anderson, 24, in the head with a gun, reports said. Both refused medical attention.
Reports said the three men broke into the home by kicking in the front door while the two were sleeping at about 1:40 a.m.
The trio stole two cell phones and a wallet with $2,000 cash inside before fleeing.
McKinney also is facing two fifth-degree felony crack cocaine possession charges, after police said they found him in April in a parked 1993 Chevrolet Astro conversion van at the 960 Store on Mahoning Avenue N.W. Police said McKinney had a clear baggy with white substance in his left hand and he tried to conceal it by rolling it between his fingers to crush the contents. An officer reached through McKinneys window and grabbed the bag. Officers also reported finding vodka, $190 and a police scanner with Warren police traffic playing in the vehicle.
Last year McKinney was charged with felonious assault in the June 28, 2011, shooting of Gabriel Lofton Jr. in the arm. Lofton was found shot outside of the Sunoco Gas Station, 805 W. Market St., but he has since recovered.
After the shooting, McKinney fled to the Los Angeles area, where U.S. Marshals apprehended him and brought him back to Warren to face charges. McKinney eventually pleaded guilty to a bill of information charging him with improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and he was sentenced to five years probation.
McKinney also has previous drug and gun possession convictions, records show.