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 January 20, 2020, at approximately 8:45 a.m. police were called and advised on the whereabouts of defendant, Maria Carmen Rozzi, 55, of New Castle, who left a residence on foot and was in possession of a pistol. Rozzi was known to police as having active warrants for Terroristic Threats and for having made treats to law enforcement.  Troopers responded to the area and searched for Rozzi and later encountered Rozzi on Cooper Road, in Slippery Rock Township. The troopers ordered the woman to drop the gun but the woman refused, police said. The troopers then shot her, hitting her once, according to reports.

According to a complaint, on January 12, 2020, at approximately 10:00 p.m., police were called to Ellwood City Uni-Mart for a male with ripped clothes walking around the middle the roadway possibly intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. When approached, James Locke, 32, of Ellwood City, was placed under arrest for public intoxication. After a search, police found a large amount of empty baggies on him that had been torn and wrapped. A needle was found in his pocket with a black tar substance. Another baggie was found with three batteries in his hoodie with the other spent baggies. Locke told police he had Suboxone in the needle. When brought to police station, Locke took off his clothes and was wiping his buttocks all over the cell.  Locke is charged with public intoxication and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to a complaint, on December 27, 2019, at approximately 9:55 p.m., police monitoring the intersection near Mt. Vernon Drive and Loop Street observed a SUV stop in middle of roadway releasing a passenger from the vehicle. After attempting to monitor and identify the male he was identified as Jeffrey Stelter, 40, of Ellwood City, whom could not provide any housing authority identification to be on the Lawrence County Housing Authority property. When patrol approached, Stelter tossed an item underneath a vehicle and continued walking. Police observed a green prescription bottle as well as a shiny item with dark ends, suspected as glass crack pipe. After attempts to resist arrest, Stelter was finally detained. Police found and seized a clear glass crack pipe with two burnt ends containing crack cocaine residue and a green prescription pill bottle, containing four white bars. Stelter was transported to police department. A notice of trespassing will be submitted to the Lawrence County Housing Authority. Stelter is further charged with possession of a controlled substance.

According to a complaint, on October 8, 2019, police were called to a scene for a report of sexual assault. The victim reported to be assaulted by her step-father, Roger Elliot Kennedy Sr., 67, of New Castle, when she was approximately eight years of age. The victim related that the assault occurred numerous times during the course of a year in 1992 and 1993 at at residence in Slippery Rock Township. Due to the incidents occurring in 1992 and 1993, only t hose acts involving penetration, however slight, of the victim’s genitals, constituted the charges of Rape, Aggravated Indecent Assault, and Incest remain chargeable due to the statute of limitations in effect at that time.

Daniel Schaffer, 46, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after police conducted a traffic stop on his Honda motorcycle on January 5, 2020, for expired registration plates.  Schaffer failed a series of field sobriety tests and was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence. Schaffer’s driving privileges were under suspension from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and after a criminal history check, police found five previous convictions for driving under the influence.  Schaffer is charged with DUI, Driving While Operating Privilege is Suspended.

Michael Skunda, 49, of Portersville, is charged with DUI after police conducted a traffic stop after receiving an erratic driver complaint. On January 3, 2020, at approximately 5:30 p.m. police stopped Skunda on Second Street for a traffic stop at which Skunda failed a series of field sobriety tests. Skunda was placed into custody and later charged with DUI and careless driving.