Endangering Welfare of Children
- An Ellwood City man was charged with endangering the welfare of a child following an incident on Jan. 25. According to to the criminal complaint, Bronson Lane, 26, of Wampum Ave., was walking with his one-year old daughter on Madison Ave while the child was barefoot and insufficiently dressed. The temperature was around 35 degrees. Prior to this, Lane had assaulted his girlfriend while she was holding his daughter. After forcing the victim to hand over the child, he proceeded outside. He was charged with simple assault, harassment and endangering the welfare of children.
Man Shoplifts While Officer is Shopping
- According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 25 around 7:30 p.m., an officer was shopping at the Dollar General on 1221 Lawrence Ave. when he witnessed a suspicious man hurrying to exit the store from a side isle. The officer intercepted the man, who had protrusions under his coat. The man was identified as John Murphy, 50, of Beaver Falls, who admitted to shoplifting. Murphy had taken a dozen Clover Valley eggs, Clover Valley salted butter, junior mints, Eckrich meats, Cesar dog food, Ditaliand Plain and Smithwood Applewood bacon, valued at $26.87. He was charged with retail theft.
Man Steals Cell Phone While Helping to Find Cell Phone
- According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 30 around 2:45 a.m., a woman called the Ellwood City police regarding a stolen cell phone. The woman advised the investigating officer that her black and silver Apple iPhone 6 was stolen while she was at Pagley’s Pour House. Using the “Find My iPhone” app, the victim and officer tracked to the phone to the home of Geoffrey Clarke, of Mount Herman Church Road, New Castle. Clarke told officers the phone was in a ditch near his house, which it was, but provided no further explanation to how the phone arrived there. The victim informed officers that her phone was now irreparably damaged and estimated the replacement value at $600. The victim said that Clarke had looked for her phone at Pagley’s but had not informed her he had found it. With this information, Clarke was charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and damage to property.
I settled this matter n court and all charges were dropped