Police and court briefs

Man indicted in carjacking connection

An Elyria man accused of stabbing a woman during a carjacking was indicted in federal court, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Johnny G. Mack III, 39, was indicted on a count of carjacking after police say he used force to steal a 2016 Nissan Altima on Dec. 12, 2018, according to the indictment. Mack pulled a knife and threatened to stab the driver of the Altima as he pushed her into her car, Elyria police said. Mack stabbed the victim, causing small puncture wounds to her legs, stomach and hands, according to court documents. The FBI and Elyria police investigated the incident. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki is prosecuting the case.

Man pleads not guilty in crash, explosion

The man accused of driving his car into a Vermilion Township house which police say led to an explosion Jan. 31, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on the case. Kenneth E. Karnow Jr., 56, of Brownhelm Township, pleaded not guilty Feb. 7 to burglary and possession of criminal tools and a misdemeanor count of fleeing the scene following an accident. An Erie County Common Pleas Court grand jury will decide if Karnow will go to trial. According to the police, at 3:30 a.m., Karnow was traveling east near the 1500 block of East Darrow Road in a Ford SUV, when he lost control and went off the right side of the road and struck a house and its gas meter. The gas meter broke, causing a leak and eventually an explosion, police said. Karnow fled the area on foot prior to an Erie County sheriff’s deputy arrived on scene and was arrested later hiding in a vacant home. He is free on $11,000 bond.