POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
Amber Marie Russo, 30, of New Castle, is charged with one count of criminal mischief after police responded to a residence in Hickory Township, Lawrence County. According to a state police report, New Castle police responded to the residence on March 26 at midnight and, upon further investigation, discovered Russo had shattered a glass pane upon a window at the residence belonging to her former paramour, a 27-year-old male from New Castle. The damage is reported at $250.00. Charges will be filed and pending through the office of District Judge Jerry Cartwright.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
Adam Pounds, 30, and Brandi McNamara, 32, both of Ellwood City were both arrested after fleeing a traffic stop in Koppel Borough, Beaver County. According to a public information release report, on March 27 at approximately 10:30 p.m. PA State Police initiated a traffic stop on a 2009 Ford Escape near 3rd Avenue and Mount Street for a traffic violation and during the encounter the driver displayed signs of impairment and fled from the stop at a high rate of speed. The vehicle crashed and a foot pursuit ensued. The driver was taken into custody without incident and taken to the hospital for injuries sustained from the foot pursuit. The passenger was found to be in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Charges were filed accordingly.

DUI:
According to a State Police report, Jami Reese, 51, Wampum, was arrested for DUI after a traffic stop March 28 at 2:17 a.m. Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Main Street and Darlington Road in Wampum Boro, Lawrence County, for a moving violation. Reese was subsequently arrested for Suspicion of Driving Under the Influence. Charges are pending.

THREE VEHICLE ACCIDENT:
On March 23 at approximately 1:42 p.m. PA State Police responded to a report of a three-vehicle collision that occurred on West Lawrence Avenue (PA-351) near the intersection with 16th Street, Wayne Township. According to the police report, all three vehicles were traveling east on Lawrence Avenue when a 2015 Chrysler Town & Country was at a complete top to allow traffic from a nearby car wash to enter/exit. A 2006 Honda Ridgeline then began to slow to a stop as it approached the Chrysler from behind.

A 2014 Chevy Silverado, driven by Gregory Cardosi, 67, of Beaver Falls, continued and struck the rear-end of the Ridgeline which caused it to strike the rear-end of Town & Country. All involved vehicles only sustained minor to moderate damages and all were driveable from the scene. Cardosi will be charged with following too closely.

THEFT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE:
According to a PA State Police report, a theft of an ATV was reported between the hours of 4:00 p.m. March 30 and 8:00 a.m. on March 31 for a residence on West Lawrence Avenue, Wayne Township. According to the report, a 25-year-old female of Ellwood City contacted state police to report her Polaris 400 ATV stolen from her residence property between the hours reported. The ATV is reported to be a 2004 Dark Green Polaris Model, MFG by Livin’ Lite, Inc. The investigation is on-going. Anyone with information in encouraged to contact PSP New Castle at 724-598-2211

FRAUDULENT MONEY ORDERS:
A resident of Cabot, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of fraudulently issuing money orders, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced this week.The one-count Indictment named Connie Hedrick, age 68, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, from on or about June 25, 2019, to on or about March 31, 2020, Hedrick was caught fraudulently issuing money orders to herself.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 5 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.