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Struthers Home Invasion Suspect Arrested During Youngstown Traffic Stop
The stops made in the middle of the night are always the ones that reveal something more significant.
When Youngstown police stopped an SUV on West Hylda Avenue shortly after midnight, that is precisely what transpired. An ordinary traffic check for a dark window tint quickly descended into chaos. Officers were authorized to inspect the vehicle when they detected the smell of burned marijuana inside. beneath the passenger seat? A.40-caliber handgun loaded.
Jimmy Figueroa, 30, was the man seated there. He acknowledged that he owned the rifle. However, this was about more than simply a gun. Due to his background, Figueroa was legally prohibited from possessing any firearms. Even worse, Struthers police already had him on their wanted list for a violent home invasion that occurred in March.
The situation quickly became more heated. Figueroa was booked into the Mahoning County jail at the end of the night. His charges? aggravated burglary. felony assault. firearm possession by a convicted felon. inappropriate use of a weapon in a car. They all carry a lot of time.
You’ve undoubtedly heard about the house invasion if you reside in the Youngstown or Struthers area. Perhaps your local WhatsApp group or your street has been talking about it. However, now that Figueroa is in custody, the case is at last beginning to proceed.
Do you believe that this arrest marks the beginning of something more serious or a step toward closure? Let’s discuss in the comments section.
Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Armed Felon
Right now, I can tell you that this wasn’t just a fortunate catch; rather, it was the result of excellent police work and timing.
Although tinted SUVs are likely to be spotted all over Youngstown, when police pulled one down at 12:20 a.m. on Saturday, they found more than just a traffic infraction. They were prompted to investigate further by the odor of burned marijuana emanating from within.
And beneath the passenger seat up front? One loaded.40-caliber firearm. Without hesitation. Jimmy Figueroa, the man seated there, acknowledged that it was his. The fact that Figueroa isn’t just any motorist who gets caught with a pistol, however, makes this situation much more problematic.
He has a criminal record. It was already prohibited for him to handle a gun, much less have one loaded under his seat, due to a 2016 narcotics trafficking conviction from Mahoning County.
Far more than a firearms charge was made possible by just one traffic stop. He turned out to be the person whom Struthers police had been searching for after a man was shot during a violent home invasion.
What Happened During the March Struthers Home Invasion?
I double-checked the information and, believe me, this was more than a mishandled break-in.
According to allegations from WKBN, Figueroa and another man broke into a house on Frank Street in Struthers on March 19. Inside was a woman who apparently knew Figueroa. She reported to the authorities that he threatened to kill her while brandishing a gun. She took off running.
She heard two gunshots a few seconds later. A man was shot in the leg inside the house. The assailants ran away.
Can you picture hearing gunfire, feeling terrified, and then seeing them flee? The victim’s and that woman’s emotional toll goes well beyond news reports. Additionally, the neighborhood’s worry hasn’t truly subsided.
Officers searched for Figueroa for months. The vehicle he drove that evening was captured on surveillance footage. They found someone else instead of him when they went to a known site associated with him. He vanished into the distance. So far.
As evidenced by the Bath Township case, where a suspect was shot by police after stabbing a homeowner during a home invasion, violent break-ins have regrettably increased in frequency throughout Ohio.
Who Is Jimmy Figueroa?
To be honest, this is not the first time that police enforcement has taken notice of him.
The name may seem familiar if you’ve lived in this area long enough. Figueroa was found guilty of heroin trafficking in Mahoning County back in 2016. It was against the law for him to possess or carry a firearm because of that criminal conviction.
Even though he was previously wanted for a violent home invasion and shooting, he is being arrested almost ten years later for riding with a loaded gun.
The pattern cannot be disregarded. And the court can’t either. He is currently being prosecuted on several counts, including felonious assault, aggravated burglary, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and improper handling of a weapon in a motor vehicle.
We’ll discuss how serious that stack of accusations is in the following section, in case you were curious.
Charges Filed and What They Mean
Legal phrases like felonious assault and aggravated burglary may sound complex, but these are not light charges, so allow me to explain.
In Ohio, aggravated burglary occurs when someone enters a building with a lethal weapon with the intent to hurt or threaten someone. It is a first-degree crime, which carries a sentence of three to eleven years in jail.
Felonious assault is defined as attempting to cause significant injury or employing a lethal weapon. That is an extremely serious second-degree crime.
Then there s being a felon in possession of a firearm a third-degree felony, which on its own could land him 9 to 36 months.
Lastly, it is a fourth-degree felony to handle a firearm improperly in a motor vehicle. It may seem insignificant, but it makes the case stronger when taken into account with everything else.
It’s not light, if you’re wondering what kind of situation Figueroa might be in. These charges stacked together could easily add up to more than a decade behind bars, especially with his prior record.
This isn t the only case where multiple suspects were picked up days or weeks aparta similar two-arrest case was reported in Washington Countynot too long ago.
Co-Defendant Clemale Bills and His Role in the Crime
What makes this case even more layered is that Figueroa wasn t acting alone.
You might not have heard much about Clemale Bills unless you ve been following this closely. He s also 30, and according to the same complaint filed in Struthers Municipal Court, he was right there with Figueroa the night of the shooting.
After the home invasion, police tracked down the car seen on surveillance and found Bills inside. At first, he gave them a fake name. But when police confronted him with video evidence of him and Figueroa together during the shooting, his reply was chillingly simple: Well, then take me to jail, then.
He was indicted on June 26 and has been in Mahoning County jail ever since. His charges mirror Figueroa s: aggravated burglary and felonious assault.
If you look at both arrests side by side, it s clear this was a coordinated attack. And with both suspects now in custody, police may be able to piece together the full story.
What s your take on both suspects being caught months apart? Drop your thoughts in the comments this case definitely left the community talking.
What Happens Next in Court?
I know what you re probably thinking: He s caught. Now what? Let s walk through what usually happens next.
Figueroa is expected to be arraigned on Monday in Youngstown Municipal Court for the charges tied to the traffic stop like firearm possession and improper handling. That s the start of the local legal process.
But the Struthers charges aggravated burglary and felonious assault will likely follow a separate path, moving toward Struthers Municipal Court or even Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, depending on how prosecutors structure it.
If he pleads not guilty, this could lead to a full trial. If he pleads guilty or accepts a deal, sentencing could come fast. Either way, you and I can expect to see his name in court updates over the coming weeks.
If you ve ever followed a criminal case in this area, you know how these things go it starts with charges, and then it s all about what can be proven in court.
Similar patterns of coordinated home invasions were seen earlier this year, like inPowhatan Point where three suspects were arrestedin another armed break-in case.
Safety Tips and How to Report Info
I m not here just to talk headlines I want to make sure you walk away with something useful.
If this case made you uneasy, there are simple things you can do right now to boost your home s safety:
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Install motion-sensor lights
around entrances -
Use deadbolts and smart locks
if possible -
Check that your security cameras actually work
and place them visibly -
Talk to neighbors
and create a text or WhatsApp alert group for emergencies
And if you have any information related to this case or others like it, you can report anonymously to Mahoning Valley Crime Stoppers or contact Struthers Police Department directly.
Sometimes, the tip that cracks a case wide open comes from someone who didn t even realize what they saw mattered.
Final Thoughts
Let me leave you with something to think about.
This isn t just about one guy with a gun. It s about a bigger pattern. According to the latest crime stats from Ohio s public safety data, home invasions and violent break-ins have been climbing steadily since 2022 especially in mid-sized cities like Youngstown and its surrounding neighborhoods.
And when the same names keep showing up in mugshots guys like Figueroa with prior convictions you start to wonder how effective the system really is at stopping repeat offenders.
I know you feel it. That tension when a car rolls by slow at night. The way we double-check the locks even when it s bright out. We re not just reacting to the news we re adapting to it.
So maybe this arrest is just one name off the streets. But for you and me, it s also a reminder that staying aware, staying involved, and knowing what s happening in our neighborhoods still matters more than ever.
For more updates on similar home invasion cases, explore our full coverage in theHome Securitysection of Build Like New.
Disclaimer:The information in this article is based on police reports and public records available at the time of publication. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Details may evolve as the investigation continues.
Table of Contents
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Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Armed Felon
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What Happened During the March Struthers Home Invasion?
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Who Is Jimmy Figueroa?
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Charges Filed and What They Mean
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Co-Defendant Clemale Bills and His Role in the Crime
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What Happens Next in Court?
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Safety Tips and How to Report Info
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Final Thoughts
