POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

MOTORCYCLE THEFT:
According to a criminal complaint, on Tuesday, October 26 at 6:00 p.m. officers were dispatched to Spring Avenue for a motor vehicle theft. The victim advised that someone had stole his 2004 Harley Davidson Sportser 883 motorcycle from out in front of the funeral home. The victim told police he was at the funeral home to mourn the loss of a friend, Andrew Small. The victim related the motorcycle was Small’s but that Small’s girlfriend actually owned the bike and was inside the funeral home. The victim said he observed a white male, later identified as Harold Evans, 35, of Ellwood City, exit a brick house on the corner of Spring Avenue and Third Street and approached the victim while he was outside the funeral home at approximately 5:15 p.m. The two later entered the funeral home for the service but when the victim exited the funeral home thirty minutes later he found his motorcycle to be gone. Police reviewed security footage from the funeral home where they were able to identify Evans who is seen on footage pushing the motorcycle west on Spring Avenue towards Pittsburgh Circle and out of the camera view. Officers put a BOLO out in Lawrence and Beaver County for the vehicle. Officers were unable to make contact with Evan’s mother and later contacted Evans’ girlfriend whom related the last time she saw Evans was his mother’s residence on Spring Avenue. Harold Evans is charged with Theft, Receiving Stolen Property, Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle, and Driving With Suspended License.

THEFT:
On October 23, at approximately 6:17 p.m., the PA State Police investigated reports of a Theft by Deception reported in Wayne Township, Lawrence County . In the commission of this crime, Unknown actor contacted a 56-year-old male victim regarding an outstanding warrant. The victim was informed that he needed to pay $3,000 to have this warrant take care of or he would go to jail. The victim bought $1,000 in gift cards, provided the unknown actor with the card number and pin. Investigation is ongoing.

ACCIDENT:
A two vehicle accident occurred on West Lawrence Avenue, in Ellwood City, on October 19 at approximately 4:08 p.m. According to the report, a 2012 Subaru was traveling east on Lawrence Avenue and was slowing in its lane to make a left into The Car Wash of Ellwod City. While the Subaru was slowing it was struck in the rear end by the front end of a 2016 Jeep Renegade, driven by Joshua Mullins, 23, of Ellwood City. Mullins was charged with following too closely. Both drivers were wearing seat belts.

HOMICIDE WARRANT:
The New Castle City Police Department has filed Criminal Homicide Charges as a result of an investigation into a homicide which occurred October 24, 2021. At approximately 6:59 pm, The NCPD was dispatched to UPMC for a reported gunshot victim which was brought to the hospital. Responding officers learned that the victim, identified as Devon Thompson had died of his injuries. The NCPD investigation determined that the shooting occurred at 413 Leasure Avenue 2nd floor, in the City of New Castle. The New Castle City Police Department has filed charges of CRIMINAL HOMICIDE and POSSESSION OF FIREARM WITH MANUFACTURER NUMBER ALTERED charges against Daniel Lee TWEEDLIE 18, from New Brighton, PA. The NCPD currently has an active arrest warrant for TWEEDLIE (Pictured, Right), who is described as a white male, 5’5” tall, 150 pounds, brown hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of TWEEDLIE is asked to contact the NCPD at 724-656-9300 or tips can be left on our tip line at www.Newcastlepd.com.

CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOTATION:
A resident of Greenville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of Distribution and Possession of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced. Alex Rogan-Laird, age 26, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on March 14, 2020, Rogan-Laird distributed videos and still images over the “LiveMe” interactive software application depicting the sexual exploitation of prepubescent minors to an agent of the FBI working in an undercover capacity in Salt Lake City, Utah. The FBI further found Rogan-Laird in possession of thousands of sexually exploitive videos and images depicting children on July 15, 2020, at the time a federal search warrant was executed at his residence. Rogan-Laird admitted to viewing and distributing child pornography using “LiveMe” and similar software applications. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years nor more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both.

DUI:
Andrew Hammond, 21, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI, Driving With Suspended License, Drug Possession, and Firearms Without License after a traffic stop on August 20, 2021. According to the criminal complaint, Ellwood City Police conducted a traffic stop in a gravel parking lot near the apartments of rear 5th Street. As Hammond exited his vehicle police observed a handgun on Hammond but Hammond did not have a license to carry. Police found a clip containing 13 rounds in the vehicle’s center console. Officers noticed Hammond appeared to be under the influence of marijuana and he later failed a field sobriety test. Hammond was placed under arrest and transported to a nearby hospital for blood draw.