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criminal complaints

July 10, 2017

Ellwood City Man Facing Felony Charge for Injury-Causing Hit and Run

According to the criminal complaint, Michael Ray Magill Jr., 38, of Eidenmiller Lane, has been charged by state police as a result of causing serious bodily injury during a crash and fleeing the scene. On June 2, an officer was dispatched to the area near 2590 Chewton Wurtemburg Road for a report of a two vehicle crash, in addition the officer was advised that multiple subjects fled from the scene. Upon arrival the officer observed a disabled Ford Focus, belonging to George Richard Weller, with no driver or passengers in the vehicle. A prescription pill bottle belonging to Magill was…

June 26, 2017

Criminal Complaints: Ellwood City Man Facing Attempted Homicide Charge

Ellwood City Man Facing Attempted Homicide Charge According to the criminal complaint, on June 17, 2017 officers arrived to a residence on Portersville Road for a report of a domestic dispute. The victim advised that her fiancee, whom she lives with, Raemond Albert Wright, 34, of Ellwood City, had assaulted her during a verbal argument. She said that Wright had grabbed her and threw her around the kitchen then threw her down and started choking her to the point of losing consciousness. The victim said that while she was being choked the defendant told her multiple times he was going…

June 9, 2017

Criminal Mischief Leaves Several Cars Damaged on Park Ave.

The Ellwood City Police Department warns of criminal mischief complaints they have been receiving lately. Over a half dozen residents on Park Avenue have reported damage to their cars during the night of 6/6 into the early morning hours of 6/7. Cars parked along the avenue, including a 2017 Chevy Traverse, 2015 Ford Escape, 2014 Dodge Journey, 2014 Chevy Cruze, and several others parked along the avenue, were scratched/keyed with a sharp object causing a variation of damages on each car. While some cars only had scratches on the passenger side doors, others were scratched from the front, side, and…

June 8, 2017

New Castle Man Accused of Housing Missing 13-Year-Old

According to the criminal complaint, Travis Wade Betker of New Castle will be facing a felony charge of interfering with custody of children, and misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors, obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, and disorderly conduct, following an incident that happened on May 1, 2017. Betker allowed a 13 year-old female to stay at his residence after he had knowledge that she was reported to the police as a missing person. On April 30 around 7:45a.m., officers took a report of a missing/runaway teen who had left the residence during the night. The reporting parent…

May 2, 2017

Former Treasurer Prohibited from Attending Ellwood City Arts and Crafts Festival

Suzanne Darlen Bleakney, 50, of Ellwood City, the previous Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival treasurer accused of theft, has now pleaded guilty Friday to one count of theft. Bleakney was facing charges of theft by unlawful taking and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received after supposedly stealing upwards of $1650.00 from the festival bank account during her time working as the treasurer. Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge J. Craig Cox sentenced her to 18 months of probation and 20 hours of community service. She is also ordered to repay the $1,650 of misappropriated…