police

14th National Take-Back Initiative

The Ellwood City Police Department in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)  has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take Back Day which will take place on Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., across the country.   This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications. Ellwood City Police Department will once again participate in this event. Unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs can be safely disposed of at the ELLWOOD CITY MUNICIPAL BUILDING at the rear…


New Brighton Police Department Release Photos of Burglar, Ask Public for Help to Identity

The New Brighton Police Department are asking for help finding a burglar whose been seen on home security system footage. The surveillance was taken at a home on 10th Street in New Brighton, and much like the recent story we reported on in Shenango Township, this burglar is going into people’s houses when they are home and stealing from them. It is unclear if the incidents are related. According to several commenters on the post, the man is suspected of stealing from several other residence throughout the local area – sometimes succeeding and sometimes not. Anyone with any information is…


Ellwood City Man Facing Endangering Welfare of Children Charges

Charles Ray Murray, 38, of Ellwood City, is facing charges after leaving four young children at home without any adult supervision while he went out to play cards. According to the criminal complaint, police were called to Murray’s Crescent Avenue residence by the biological mother of his children after she was talked to their 11-year-old over the phone who stated they were unsupervised in the residence. Murray had agreed to watch his three children, ages 11, 9, and 7, and also a friend’s seven-week-old baby on the night he went out to play cards with friends, leaving the children for…


Ellwood City Police, Firemen Receive Commendation for Life Saving Event

Several Ellwood City volunteer firemen and two Ellwood City officers attended yesterday’s council meeting while Council President Connie MacDonald read their commendation. On October 4th, a man working at Blank Concrete and Supply Co. went into full cardiac arrest, police officers Matthew Kennedy and Robert Magnifico were first to arrive on scene and immediately started CPR. Together both the officers and firefighters performed life-saving techniques on the man including using an AED to stabilize him while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Due to the fast action of these men, the patient is expected to make a full recovery and will…


Woman Facing Charges After Spending Thousands on Stolen Credit Card

According to the criminal complaint, Linda Marie Thompson, 34 of Valencia, PA., will be facing two counts of a felony charge of unauthorized use of a credit card. The victim went to the Ellwood City Police Department to report the fraud, stating that Thompson had taken two of his credit cards without his permission and charged large amounts on both cards. One card had a charge balance of $4815.90 and the second had a charge balance of $6995.05.


Ellwood City PD Thank Veterinary Office for Money Raised

The Ellwood City Police Department released the following thank you to the Ellwood City Veterinary Practice for their help to raise money for canine officer Ranger: A big thank-you to Dr. Cindi Maro and Dr. Daniel Jones for raising funds for the purchase of a GPS tracking device for Ellwood City Police K9,  Ranger. The raising of funds were held in conjunction with the EC Fall Festival. Dr. Maro opened the Ellwood City  Animal Hospital 30 years ago, September 26, 1987. Mayor Court has been involved with Dr. Maro in numerous meetings to put this all together and have a successful outcome to raise funds to purchase this…


Domestic Human Trafficking Seminar: “Together We Can End This Modern Day Slavery”

Earlier this year, two Lawrence County men were charged with domestic human trafficking – an issue that Barb Bohizic, activist against human trafficking and co-founder of Stop Taking Advantage of the Needy, Disabled and Disadvantaged (STANDD), says happens a lot more in the community than people realize. Several years ago, after personally meeting an underage boy in Wayne Township who had admitted that his father would offer him to friends in exchange for drugs, Bohizic knew she had to do something to raise awareness in the community. “The boy admitted to me what was happening and after an investigation they…


Police Reports: Flagger Assaulted on Fifth Street Bridge

Flagger Assaulted on Fifth Street Bridge According to the police report, on Sept. 11 a flagger was assaulted while working in the construction zone on the Fifth Street Bridge in the early afternoon. Officers were advised of an incident that was occurring at the south end of the bridge. A vehicle was parked, blocking the roadway with the driver and passenger side doors open, resulting in a heavy traffic build up and students unable to cross the road. Several people were yelling at each other and once patrol was able to calm the situation they conducted interviews with witnesses to…


New Castle Store Owner Offering Reward for Information on Robbery Suspects

According to Michelle Cioffi’s Facebook post, her business, Puff N Snuff on Croton Ave. was broken into last night with a rock smashed through the front door. “This is what I walked into this morning. A rock through my door and my cigarette racks emptied,” her Facebook post states. “This is why no one wants to bring new businesses and jobs to our community.” She posted security camera photos of the suspects and is offering a reward for anyone who has information on who committed the crime. See photos and Facebook post below.


Woman Charged with Endangering Welfare of Children After Incident Involving Marijuana

According to the criminal complaint, Ashley Anne Birchfield, 33, of Ellwood City, is facing charges of endangering the welfare of children after an incident on August 29. On August 29 at approximately 11p.m. officers responded to a complaint that the residents of the apartment were smoking and the smoke was emanating throughout the hallways of the apartment building. Officers knocked on the suspects door and a juvenile answered, leaving the door open while he searched for an adult. Officers observed a cloudy haze throughout the apartment and a strong smell of marijuana. Birchfield was laying down with a juvenile asleep…