Published: Thursday, October 11, 2007
Youngstown woman offered bribe during raid, police say
A loaded 9mm was found under a love seat cushion, police said.
YOUNGSTOWN — Police allege Alberta McGauley offered a vice cop a bribe, saying, "I'll give you $100 if you don't tell them how much money I have."
McGauley then repeated the offer during a drug raid at her home, police said. The 73-year-old Oak Lane woman ended up arrested on two charges — trafficking in crack cocaine and bribery.
She was arraigned via video Wednesday in municipal court. Judge Robert A. Douglas set bond at $30,000 and a preliminary hearing for Tuesday.
Police with a search warrant entered 1547 Oak Lane on the city's East Side around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. McGauley, the sole renter, was found seated at the kitchen table with a large rock (4.5 grams) of suspected crack on the table, reports show.
In a coat hanging from a kitchen chair, police found five aluminum bindles (doses) of suspected crack. A loaded 9mm handgun was found under a love seat cushion.
Patrolwoman Barbara Copeland, inventory officer for the vice squad, removed $90 from McGauley's right pants pocket and $600 from the left pocket, reports show.
That's when police said McGauley offered the bribe.
