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Police and Fire

January 27, 2021

Bernstine Bill on Parole Process for Violent Offenders Passes House Committee

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) announced today that his legislation which focuses on the parole process for violent offenders in the wake of the 2019 murder of a child in Lawrence County, passed the House Judiciary Committee. Markie’s Law was named after Mark Mason, an 8-year-old boy who was brutally stabbed to death by a man who was paroled at the end of his minimum sentence for homicide, even after committing two separate assaults of other inmates while behind bars. “I applaud the House Judiciary Committee for approving this legislation,” said Bernstine. “Markie’s Law bill must get over the…

January 26, 2021

Convicted Beaver County Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Cocaine Trafficking Charge

PITTSBURGH – Harold Novick pled guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine between 2017 and 2019, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. Novick, age 40, formerly a resident of Beaver County, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing to occur on May 24, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Novick was on state parole for a prior cocaine-trafficking conviction when he committed the additional drug-trafficking crime to which he pled guilty. The law provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000,000. Under the Federal…

January 15, 2021

Portersville Man Sentenced for Role in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Portersville, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to time served followed by three years’ supervised release on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, conspiracy to distribute heroin, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced on Thursday. Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Ray Chrzanowski, age 53. According to information presented to the court, in 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration initiated a wiretap investigation, primarily targeting the GBK street gang and drug trafficking in and around…

January 5, 2021

Bernstine Announces Funding for Police Body Cameras In New Brighton Borough

NEW BRIGHTON – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Lawrence/Butler) today announced that New Brighton Borough will receive $15,610 in funding from a federal program that offers grants to purchase camera systems, data storage and other costs relating to implementation or expansion of body-worn camera (BWC) systems for law enforcement and corrections institutions in Pennsylvania. The BWC Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies program supports agencies seeking to establish or expand BWC programs and have specified plans to implement this technology in a manner that maximizes the benefits of BWCs. “I’m pleased we are able to bring home the funds…

December 15, 2020

‘Operation Naughty List’ Nets Drug/Weapon Seizure in Lawrence County

According to a social media post by the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office, ‘Operation Naughty List’ has netted a large drug/weapon seizure in Lawrence County. According to the post, and in the early morning hours of Monday, December 14, 2020, members of the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Unit, New Castle City Narcotics, Union Township Police Department and New Castle City CIRT executed a sealed search warrant at 131 Park Avenue in the city of New Castle leading to the seizure of large sums of money and drugs hidden throughout the house in vacuum sealed packages. Detectives seized…

December 7, 2020

POLICE REPORTS: Criminal Complaints

The following are police criminal complaints filed at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Lawrence County office of Honorable Jerry G. Cartwright. Krista Knechtel, 40, of Ellwood City, is charged with Retail Theft after police were called to Dollar General on Wednesday, November 4. Upon arrival, police were advised by the store clerk and later identified Knechtel leading to police finding two packs of beef jerky, a pack of Kraft Cheese, a candle, a chocolate bar, and a pack of makeup totaling $20.51 in her purse.  Knechtel was released and charges will be filed upon criminal history check. Store clerk will review…

December 2, 2020

POLICE: Traffic Stop Results in Drug Seizure From Multi-State Offender

On Monday, November 30, a traffic stop resulted in a seizure of suspected drugs and controlled substances from a multi-state offender. According to the complaint, police received information from a CI who related Jennifer Glassock, 36, of Conneaut, Ohio, was in possession of a large amounts of methamphetamine. Glasscock had an active warrant and was informed to be in the Ellwood City area operating a silver Nissan Altima with Florida registration. At approximately 2:20 p.m. police located Glassock and conducted a traffic stop in downtown Ellwood City on Lawrence Avenue near 7th Street. Upon approach police observed in plain view…

December 2, 2020

Mayor Court Swears In Officer Joshua Sipe

A recently hired police officer was sworn in by Mayor Anthony Court on November 30, 2020. Officer Joshua Sipe is a full-time officer. Ellwood City Police Department now has 10 full-time officers and 3 part-time officers in the department.  The new officer was sworn in at Mayor Court’s office in the Ellwood City Municipal Building. The Ellwood City Borough Council passed its motion for the employment in its November Council Meeting. In photo below: Mayor Anthony J. Court, Officer Joshua Sipe and Council President George Celli.

November 9, 2020

POLICE: Fatal Motorcycle Accident On Route 65

According to a Pennsylvania State police report, a man was killed in a motorcycle accident on Sunday evening at approximately 6:00 p.m. on PA Route 65 (Ellwood Road) near Hogue Road in Slippery Rock Township. Through evidence located at the scene, David Sedgwick, 43, of Ellwood City, was traveling southbound on Ellwood Road when an oncoming vehicle was attempting to turn left from a private driveway located on the west side of the roadway. A 2016 Chevy Cruze driven by Mary Dean, 72, of New Castle, pulled into the lane of travel of the 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by…

November 2, 2020

POLICE REPORTS: Criminal Complaints

The following are police criminal complaints filed at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Lawrence County office of Honorable Jerry G. Cartwright. Kristy Penrod, 39, of Ellwood City, is charged with driving under the influence after a hit and run accident on September 19. According to the report, the accident took place in the area of 6th Street and Franklin Avenue and after the accident, the caller/victim related to police that after he spoke to Penrod about the accident and collected her license plate, she left the area quickly. Police later located the vehicle matching the description and license plate on Western…