POLICE REPORTS: Criminal Complaints

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

Kristy Penrod, 39, of Ellwood City, is charged with driving under the influence after a hit and run accident on September 19. According to the report, the accident took place in the area of 6th Street and Franklin Avenue and after the accident, the caller/victim related to police that after he spoke to Penrod about the accident and collected her license plate, she left the area quickly. Police later located the vehicle matching the description and license plate on Western Avenue and located Penrod who appeared physically intoxicated. Police confirm her license was DUI suspended and after administering a field sobriety test, it was clear to officers that Penrod may be under the influence of some type of narcotics. Police took Penrod into custody and was transported to Jameson Hospital.

Jeffrey Norris, 45, of Ellwood City, is charged with driving under the influence, fleeing or attempting to elude officers, and careless driving, after an incident on October 17 just after midnight. Police observed Norris driving at a high rate of speed and failing to use turn signals and activated emergency signals to conduct a traffic stop. According to the report, Norris continued to drive at a high rate of speed in a careless manor, failing to stop at posted stop signs. The vehicle finally pulled over on Seventh Street where Norris exited the vehicle and ran through the rear yards of residences near Park Avenue. Police finally located Norris in a residence attempting to conceal himself and after questioning, admitted to fleeing due to active warrants. Norris was transported to ECPD and further lodged in Lawrence County Jail on the active bench warrants.

Adam Sally, 20, of Ellwood City, is charged with criminal mischief and criminal mischief property damage after it was reported Sally keyed a victim’s vehicle parked on Beechview Boulevard on September 1. The victim told police she found a large keyed in scratch along her vehicle and had earlier observed Sally walking by her vehicle. Police located the residence for Sally and questioned him about the criminal act and after confirming Sally as the perpetrator, police advised Sally he will receive restitution charges in the mail.

Brian Staples, 55, of Ellwood City, is charged with driving under the influence and careless driving after an incident on October 15 at approximately 7:00 a.m. According to the report, Ellwood City Police were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident near 509 Smiley Street as the caller reported a parked vehicle was struck by another vehicle and was then being rammed. When police arrived they found Staples hunched over in his vehicle with his legs dangling out of the side of the drivers door of his vehicle. When approached police detected a strong smell of alcohol and observed a half gallon of whiskey and several beer cans on the floor of the passenger side. Staples failed his field sobriety test and was transported to police station for a blood draw.

Jeffrey Pearce, 42, of Ellwood City, is charged with driving under the influence and possession/use of drug paraphernalia after an incident on September 20 near 524 Ellwood Avenue. According to the report, police were called to the scene for an intoxicated male crawling to the drivers door of a red Chevy pickup. Police observed Pearce slowly back out of the driveway of 524 Ellwood Avenue and travel to the intersection of North Street. After observing the vehicle swerved hard to avoid a collision, police conducted a traffic stop where Pearce later told police he had last used heroin ‘about an hour ago’ and, after a search, police located a syringe in his front pocket. Pearce failed his field sobriety test and was transported to police station for chemical testing.

Brandon Brenner, 28, of Slippery Rock, is charged with driving under the influence and damage to unattended vehicle/property after an incident on September 13. According to the report, at approximately 1:10 a.m., police were dispatched to Fountain Avenue for a hit and run accident. The caller stated that their vehicle had been struck by a grey suv and the suspect fled the scene on Fountain Avenue. As police responded, they spotted a grey vehicle disabled in the middle of Fountain Avenue in front of T&M Hardware store. Police observed three males attempting to push the vehicle off the roadway and upon approach police asked whom was the driver for which Brenner answered. While speaking to Brenner, police detected a strong odor of alcohol and failed a field sobriety test. Brenner was placed under arrest and transported to the police station for a blood test.