Countrywide Mortgage Appraiser Assaulted

A 13-year-old Big Falls Avenue boy was charged Sept. 25 with misrepresenting his identity, menacing and assault. While at the playground on the 900 block of Dayton Street, the boy struck a Pilkin Avenue boy, 6, in the forehead with the handle of a pellet gun, police said. When police talked to the boy, he told police his name was ``James Fudge.'' The victim was hospitalized.

Jonathan ``Bumpy'' Clark, 45, of Aberdeen Street was charged Sept. 28 with felonious assault, robbery, obstructing official business and resisting arrest. ``Bumpy,'' also known as ``Chicago,'' allegedly punched an appraiser from Countrywide Mortgage. The appraiser fell on the sidewalk, broke his arm and dislocated his left shoulder. Earlier that day, police said, Clark robbed and threatened to kill an Edward Avenue man, 37. When police saw him, he ran and fought police before being handcuffed, officers saod.

Kenneth Yensen, 69, of East South Street was charged Oct. 1 with public indecency, littering, two counts of disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapon. Yensen was found passed out on a devil strip in the area of Princeton and Lake streets, police said. When police woke him up, he urinated on the grass in front of several children playing. Yensen became angry and violent when arrested. When he was searched, police found a steak knife in his pocket.

Adam Reynolds, 23, of Ada Street was charged Sept. 28 with tampering with evidence, obstructing official business and resisting arrest. Reynolds was stopped in the 2000 block of South Arlington Road. Reports said that while he was being searched, he quickly reached into a pant pocket and swallowed an ``unknown narcotic.'' Police tried to keep him from swallowing the drugs in his pockets, but Reynolds began to thrash and kick the officers. Police said they were forced to use a Taser on him.

Efridge Herndon, 65, was charged Sept. 25 with open container, misrepresentation of his identity and carrying a concealed weapon. Herndon was found sitting in a car on the 700 block of Grant Street drinking a 40-ounce beer. When police asked for his name, he said he had no ID. After a search, police found ID in his pocket and a pocket knife propped open in his right pants pocket.

Leon Campbell, 29, of East Crosier Avenue was charged Sept. 25 with assault and criminal damaging. Campbell kicked a cab after refusing to pay for the cab fare, police said. The cab driver, 58, said he brought Campbell to his friend's home on Clifton Avenue where Campbell went inside and did not return to pay. When the driver knocked on the door, Campbell allegedly pushed him and kicked the cab. The taillight was cracked. Campbell later reportedly bit his friend on the neck and stabbed him in the hand with a knife. Then, he went outside and slashed the tires of another friend, police said.

Jeffrey Arp, 43, of Independence Avenue was charged Sept. 27 with domestic violence. Police said Arp was angry about the shirt his girlfriend was wearing and some food. Arp threw a ketchup bottle at her, grabbed her by the hair and threw her on the bed. The girlfriend, 43, took some of his paperwork and her cell phone and tried to leave. Arp chased her down and grabbed her by the hair again, taking the papers back, the report said.

David Jones, 42, of Fulton Street was charged Sept. 28 with theft. Police said Jones stole three T-bone steaks, valued at $22.77, from Giant Eagle, 484 E. Waterloo Road. Reports said he put the packages of meat down his pants and attempted to walk out of the store without paying.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.