POLICE REPORTS: Criminal Complaints

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

Local Man Charged for making Terroristic Threats to ex-girlfriend

22-year-old Michael Sopo of Harrisville, Pennsylvania is being charged with multiple forms of assault and harassment after his ex-girlfriend called and reported him for an altercation on Wednesday, June 17.

Pennsylvania State Police responded to a report by a female that had been assaulted by her ex-boyfriend, Sopo. After making contact with the victim on Clyde Street, New Beaver Borough, they obtained her written statement on the incident.

She related that at 2:00 AM on June 17 her ex-boyfriend Michael Sopo made contact with her stating that he was going to come to where she was and steal her car and destroy everything. The victim said that after this, she went to her car to grab her keys and while she was doing so, Sopo called her again to tell her that he saw her and that he was parked on the side of the road. Sopo proceeded to scream at her that she should get to his car or he’d hurt her. When she got to the silver Sedan he was driving, he told her that he had a gun and would hit her if she didn’t get in, so she did.

Sopo proceeded to drive the two to Gilmore Road. North Beaver Township and parked. While parked, Sopo attempted to kiss her by grabbing her by the neck and back of head forcefully pulling her in. She pulled away and Sopo then demanded for her phone. She then attempted to open the door and flee but Sopo grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the vehicle and closed the door. He then began driving at a high rate of speed, threatening that he would kill them both by crashing. He eventually stopped and was given her phone which he threw causing damage.

Drunk Hit and Run

On May 23 at 9:10 p.m. Ellwood Police were responding to a call in regards to a motor vehicle accident in the area of Franklin Avenue and Early Street. The reporting party stated that Barry Smith, 41, of Ellwood City, had struck a parked car and proceeded to drive down the road to assess the damage on his car. When police made contact with said party, they soon found a gold Chevrolet Equinox in the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Millview Street.

After approaching Smith, ECPD officers noticed he had a medical boot on his left foot/ankle and he appeared to be holding onto the driver side door with the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Officers noticed that as they spoke to each other, Smith seemed to sway side to side, which then led to them asking if he had been drinking prior to driving to which Smith at first responded no to. After police explained that they could smell the beverage on him did Smith admit to drinking in the Giant Eagle parking lot before he started driving.

Smith was then asked to preform three separate sobriety tests, a horizontal gaze nystagmus exam, the finger tip to nose exam, and finally the finger dexterity exam. Smith proceeded to fail all three which landed him in a holding cell back at the police department. He was then asked to conduct a blood draw preformed by Beck’s Home Blood Services.

Smith was released from ECPD at 2:00 AM and is being charged with a DUI and a reimbursement fine of $50 to the borough for the blood draw.

DUI With Marijuana Related Reasoning

32-year-old Michael Cleckley was charged with a DUI on May 29 after a cop had clocked his speed as 76mph in a 55mph active work zone. Said cop instantly activated his lights and conducted a stop.

When Cleckley rolled down his window, the smell of marijuana was present and after checking the suspended license he asked him to step out of the car. After doing two separate eye tests, he advised Cleckley that he was under arrest and proceeded to transport him to UPMC Passavant for a blood test, which after he was released to a Felicia Maietta at UPMC Passavant.