POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

TERRORISTIC THREATS
James Urbanic, 71, of Ellwood City, was charged with making Terroristic Threats on July 5th in Ellwood City. Police received a report of terroristic threats and upon arrival of the scene, the victim stated that Urbanic and himself were in a dispute over property on Tara Drive and Hickernell Road. During the dispute, the victim claimed Urbanic made numerous threats and then proceeded to enter his garage to retrieve what was later identified as a shotgun and loaded it in view of the victim and pointed it at the victim for several seconds. PA State Police proceeded to Urbanic’s house. Upon arrival, Urbanic stated tat the victim was antagonizing him and they were both arguing. Urbanic stated that the victim was acting like a child and was behaving in a manner that incited him. Urbanic stated that he did say he was going to shoot him and proceeded into his garage to retrieve his double barreled 12 Gauge Shotgun. Urbanic stated that he loaded the gun in front of the victim but did not point it directly at him. Urbanic was informed that he would be charged with the offense and to expect paperwork in the mail.

FLEEING AND ELUDING
On August 4th the Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle were involved in a vehicle pursuit with red Jeep Wrangler bearing Ohio registration HIE5741. This vehicle has a tan soft top canvas, a light bar in the rear, below and in between the tail lights. This light bar is possibly blue in color and changes to yellow warning lights when breaks and turn signals are applied. This vehicle will have minor damage behind the driver side door and continues to the rear of the vehicle. Ant information related to the vehicle can be forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Police New Castle Barracks.

THEFT ITEMS FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
On August 4th, PSP New Castle was advised of a theft that occurred on Portersville Road in Ellwood City. The victim said she works for Nesbit Portable Toilets. She said while she was pumping out a porta john, unknown actor (s) took her purse out of her truck. Anyone with information on who took the purse, please call Trooper McBride at PSP New Castle at 724-598-2211 and reference case number 21-1062456.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF UNDER $1,000
New Castle Police responded on August 3rd in Slippery Rock Township to an Criminal Mischief incident. An unknown individual (s) dumped horse manure on the victim’s front and back porch and also stuffed it in the victim’s mailbox. The unknown individual (s) fled the scene in an unknown direction. Anyone with any information regarding this case is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police New Castle Barracks at 724-598-2211.

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA AND HARASSMENT
Benjamin Stiffler, 39, of Ellwood City was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphanelia and Harassment on July 27th in Ellwood City. Officers were dispatched to Portersville Road for a domestic violence. While in route, officers were informed that Stiffler had a knife and was outside. After speaking with the victim upon arriving at the scene, she claimed that Stiffler smokes crack at least three times a day. They had gotten into an argument because Stiffler was supposed to go to rehab today and he did not. The victim said she was trying to walk away from him because he was getting more aggravated and was coming towards her. Stiffler punched the victim in the back with a closed fist and then the victim locked herself in her bedroom and called the police. The victim stated that Stiffler took a brown box with him when he went outside and that it contained crack and other paraphernalia. The victim handed officers two smoking glass pipes with burnt chore in the end of them. The victim also handed officers two clear plastic baggies with burnt chore inside. The victim said she got them out of the bottom of the bird bath area outside where he hides his drug stuff, but didn’t know where he put the box. Stiffler denied having a drug problem and blamed the victim for the domestic.

POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Michael Baxter, 50, of Ellwood City was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance on June 11th in Ellwood City. Officers were monitoring Franklin Avenue due to the multiple narcotics complaints stemming from there. Officers observed Baxter walking on Wayne Avenue and then crossing to Birch Way. Via the complaints, it was made aware to Officers that suspects will use Birch Way as an access point. Officers continued to observe Baxter and then pulled up to him when he came back to Franklin Avenue and requested to speak with him and Baxter did not stop to speak with the Officer. Baxter was then questioned on where he was coming from and he reported he was visiting family members. He was asked how long he been visiting his family he responded “awhile”. Due to Baxter’s decisiveness and knowing he was not being truthful, Officers explained why Baxter was being observed . It was explained to Baxter that there have been multiple complaints about drugs being sold and he was also informed that he was observed being inside a suspect house for five minutes. It was also explained to Baxter that it was believed that he had just purchased a controlled substance from the house in question. Baxter did not respond and he then reached into his pocket and pulled out a clear plastic baggie corner that was tied in a knot and contained a white powdery substance. Baxter handed the bag over to Officers and reported he had bought cocaine for $25.00 at the house in question. Baxter was released and told to make contact with Officers at later agreed upon time. Baxter has failed to make contact even after multiple attempts via phone and his residence.

Rick Lumley Sr, 52, of Ellwood City was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. The Officer iniated a traffic stop after running the registration of Buick Sedan and it coming back as suspended. The Officer made contact with Lumley and he related that he was suspended. Lumley was visibly nervous and shaking while he tried to explain where he was. He did not advise that he was in a very well-known narcotics sales area. Lumley changed his responses multiple times and while speaking with him there was an open can of beer in plain view in the back seat. Lumley was asked if he had any objection to his vehicle being searched which he agreed to. Lumley exited the vehicle on his own and was searched for weapons. Lumley was wearing bulky clothes and multiple pairs of pants. Lumley lifted his hooded shirt up to show his other pants and a small red bag containing suspected Crystal Meth fell out. Lumley was aksed what was in the bag and he advised that it was Crystal Meth. Lumley was then taken to ECPD and agreed to speak with Officers. He admitted he had purchased Crystal Meth for $25.00.

Ryan Troutman, 28, and Adrian Calhoun, 36, of New Castle were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance on July 24th. Troutman was stopped by police after it was noticed his registration was expired. When the Officer approached the vehicle, Troutman and Calhoun both seemed very nervous. The Officer asked Troutman for consent to search his vehicle,Troutman agreed. Troutman stated that random people had been in his vehicle and that he needed to get back home. Upon searching the vehicle, a glass crack pipe with drug residue was discovered. After obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle, two glass crack pipes with drug residue, two used syringes with suspected narcotic residue, two loaded syringes with suspected heroin, two folds containing two grams of suspected heroin, a cut straw wit suspected narcotics residue, and a scale with suspected narcotics residue were discovered in the vehicle. Both Troutman and Calhoun were charged due to evidence in the vehicle.

THEFT AND POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Jason Francis, 40, of Wampum, was charged with Theft and Possession of a Controlled Substance on July 17th in Ellwood City. Officers were dispatched to B&B Express for reports of a male passed out behind the wheel at the gas pump. Upon arrival, Francis was in drivers seat with the drivers door open with his legs out of the vehicle, his head bent back, and he was breathing very slow. Two doses of Narcan were administered before the Fire Department came and administered another dose. Francis was brought back via Narcan was alert. Francis advised he did not know ow he got there or what happened. He then admitted to using $30.00 worth of heroin before he overdosed and passed out. Portersville EMS was brought to the scene but Francis denied attention from them and contacted his wife to come pick him up. While waiting for his wife, Francis made movements and was attempting to conceal an object. When asked what it was, Francis said nothing. At that time Francis was removed from the vehicle and there were two paper folds containing heroin and fentanyl. Francis advised that he was attempting to conceal he drugs after he bought them today. Francis did agree to speak with ECPD in regards to getting help. Francis was released to his wife and was informed that he would be recieving a phone call in regard to possible charged this week. Also in plain view in the vehicle was multiple aluminum ingots that were weighing down the vehicle. Francis advised he works for Edro Steel and that he had permission take the metal and scrap it. Officers informed Francis that they would follow up with Edro Steel. On July 19th Officers spoke with Edro Steel and it was advised that Francis did not have permission to take the aluminum and that Francis had never had that right.

DUI AND POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Jonathan Lipinksi, 32, of New Castle was charged with Driving Under The Influence and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Lipinksi was pulled over after it was noticed by New Castle Police that Lipinksi was driving at a high rate of speed and was weaving across the solid white lines. Upon making contact with Lipinksi, it was observed that Lipinski was incoherent and had bloodshot eyes and was swaying back and forth. Lipinksi was asked for consent for his vehicle to be searched and he did consent. During the search, a metal smoking pipe with burnt powdery residue was located to which Lipinksi relates he smoked crack with that pipe. A black string bag with THC Vape Pen that contained suspected THC Fluid and a green string bag with Crown Royal was located on the passenger side front door. Lipinksi related he had smoked crack about 40 minutes before the traffic stop and that he had thrown out 1-2 grams of crack out of the window when the Officer started to follow him. Lipinksi was transported to UPMC Jameson for blood work. The results of the blood work indicate that the drugs in Lipinki’s system rendered him incapable of driving.