Criminal Complaints

Man Faces Several Charges After Parking at McDonalds

Brett Paul Ianarelli, 27, of Ellwood City, is facing charges of two counts of driving under the influence, driving without a registration, operating a vehicle without required financial responsibility, operating a vehicle without a valid inspection, and two counts of violation of controlled substance. He was arrested October 2 after officers responded to a call about an unresponsive man who was parked in the McDonald’s parking lot. When officers approached the vehicle they detected a strong smell of alcohol and required Ianarelli to do sobriety tests, which he failed and was taken to the hospital for a blood test. The vehicle was lacking the proper road registrations and was required to be towed from the scene. Authorities also found marijuana and a pipe in the vehicles middle console.

Treasurer Accused of Stealing from Event Funds

According to the criminal complaint, the former event treasurer of Ellwood, Suzanne Darlen Bleakney, 50, of Ellwood City, is facing charges of theft by unlawful taking and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received after she accusingly stole upwards of $1650.00 from the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival bank account during her time working as the treasurer. She admitted to stealing $700.00 of it because of the bank paper trail that reflects the action, however she claims she meant to put the money back into the event bank account “but never got around to doing it”.

Son Charged After Assaulting Father

According to the criminal complaint, Luke Matthew Surma, 21, of Ellwood is facing charges of harassment and simple assault after his father called the police to report that his son had assaulted him. When officers arrived they noticed the victim had a swollen eye and he claimed his son had punched him, his son agreed to doing it and said the reason he assaulted his father was because his father accused him of stealing money.

Man Stealing Electric Charged

A few weeks ago we brought you the police report of a man who was suspected to be leeching free electric from a residential meter in Ellwood. It was an ongoing investigation but now the defendant, Ryan Scott Kelly, 42, of Ellwood is being charged with theft of services in the amount of $554.84.