POLICE REPORTS: Criminal Complaints

The following are police criminal complaints filed at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Lawrence County office of Honorable Jerry G. Cartwright.

According to a complaint, on November 20, at 7:21 p.m. officers were dispatched to Dollar General in reference to a retail theft in progress. Upon arrival, a store employee advised there was a female stealing numerous items and putting them in her brown purse.  Teresa Ritter, 25, of Ellwood City was taken into custody. When officers asked Ritter to open her purse, there were nine pieces of merchandise valued at a total of $37.75 including a $10.00 Lego Creator Drone. Police verified through criminal history that Ritter has had one prior retail theft conviction. Ritter is charged with retail theft.

According to a complaint, on November 6, at approximately 5:00 pm. officers were advised of an incident of someone passing a counterfeit bill at the Ellwood City CVS Pharmacy. Officers made contact with the Pharmacy Tech whom handled the individual later identified as Christopher Mangelli, 35, of Koppel, whom is alleged to have come into the pharmacy to purchase suboxone prescription. According to store surveillance, as Mangelli exits the store a silver Toyota Camry pulls into parking lot with 2-3 individuals inside and picks up Mangelli. Mangelli is charged with Forgery, Theft by Deception, Receiving Stolen Property and Possession of Instruments of a Crime.

According to a complaint, on November 1, at approximately 9:15 p.m. officers patrolling near Fourth Street and Crescent Avenue observed a male walking, later identified as Seth Bingle, 36, of Ellwood City, whom officers believed had warrants for his arrest. Officers stopped Bingle and placed him into custody. Upon search Bingle stated that he had a syringe on him he had used to shoot Suboxone.  Officers seized the syringe, a clear smoking pipe, one empty Suboxone wrapper, one sealed Suboxone package, a small piece of metal to pack narcotics, and a shoe string. Once transported to police station, Bingle stated he no longer is prescribed Suboxone and that he had purchased it from someone else, not providing any more information. Bingle is charged with Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

According to a complaint, on November 18, at approximately 1:25 a.m. patrolling officers observed a white Ford pickup with headlights lit running stationary in the parking lot of Loccisano’s Golden Dawn. Upon approaching the vehicle officers observed the vehicle to be occupied by two males, both of whom were unconscious with multiple alcoholic cans in the rear of the pick up and open cans in the cup holders inside the vehicle.  The vehicle also had a flat tire. When asked by officers, South could not remember where they had come from but they were parked in the lot because they had struck something with flattened the tire and gave South a cut above his left eye. The occupants, driver Levi South, 26, of New Galilee, and passenger were both transported to the Ellwood City Medical Center after South failed a field sobriety test. South is charged with DUI, General Impairment, and Restriction on Alcoholic Beverages.

According to a complaint, on September 22, officers monitoring the parking lot of Seven Eleven convenience store just after midnight observed a silver motorcycle traveling at a very high rate of speed that led officers on a pursuit through Ellwood City, east on Fountain Avenue towards Ellport continuing on Route 488. During the pursuit, at the intersection of Portersville Road and Railroad Street, the motorcycle wrecked off the side of the roadway. The operator, later identified as Lucas McKim, 38, of New Castle, was transported to Allegheny General Hospital for treatment. McKim was thrown approximately 90 feet from his 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Ambulance personnel advised officers McKim reported to them he had been drinking and was under the influence, but a later blood draw and rapid drug screen and urinalysis from McKim was discontinued. McKim is charged with Fleeing Police, Reckless Driving, Driving At Safe Speed, and Driving on Right Side of Roadway.

Marianne Sunseri, 47, of Pittsburgh is charged with DUI after police stopped her vehicle on Saturday, November 30 on Franklin Avenue for erratically driving and crossing the double yellow line on multiple occasions.  Police later conducted a field sobriety test for which Sunseri failed.  Officers transported Sunseri to UPMC Jameson for a legal blood draw for which she refused.