POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Nicholas Kinnear, 35, of Ellwood City, is charged with Simple Assault and Harassment after an incident on January 31. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 2:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence on Spring Avenue for a domestic. Police were met outside by a female victim who related that Kinnear had became angry and accosted the victim resulting in marks and bruising. The victim also related that Kinnear threatened her with a kitchen knife. The victim fled the house and ran to a nearby bar to call police.

HARRASSMENT:
A 47-year-old Pulaski man was charged with Harassment after an incident on February 6. According to a police report, and at approximately 2:46 a.m., police were dispatched to a residence on Landau Drive in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County. Upon arrival on scene, police were met with a 43-year-old female victim who related her husband entered into a verbal argument that turned physical. The accused had fled the residence prior to police arrival.

DUI:
Sharon Nicoll, 44, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI and Careless Driving after a one-vehicle accident in Wayne Township. According to a criminal complaint, on August 5, 2021 at 10:50 p.m. police were dispatched to a one car crash on Route 65 and found Nicoll as the operator of the vehicle with a strong smell of alcohol emanating from inside the vehicle. Nicoll failed a field sobriety test and was taken into custody for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence.

DUI:
Grant Steele, 61, of New Castle, is charged with DUI and Careless Driving after a one-vehicle accident in Perry Township. According to a criminal complaint, on September 23, 2021 at approximately 4:00 p.m. police were dispatched to a crash on Portersville Road, near its intersection with River Road. It was found that Steele failed to negotiate a right hand curve and crashed into a victim’s vehicle. Steele was found unresponsive in the driver’s seat and responding EMT gave him doses of Narcan to revive him. Steele was transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw and further testing.

DUI:
Joseph Vitullo, 39, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI and Careless Driving after a traffic stop on December 20, 2021. According to a criminal complain, and at approximately 2:37 a.m., officers in routine patrol observed a vehicle traveling on Fountain Avenue crossing double yellow lines and police initiated a traffic stop near Pittsburgh Circle. Police observed a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle and observed several empty cans in the back seat. Vitullo was asked to exit the car and later failed a field sobriety test. Vitullo was placed under arrest for suspicion of Driving Under The Influence and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.

DUI:
John Steckman, 25, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on February 6. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:53 a.m. a police officer traveling east on Lawrence Avenue observed a Mercedes Benz vehicle revving its engine with an inoperable passenger headlight. Police pulled alongside the car without emergency lights activated and during questioning observed Steckman to be under the influence of alcohol. Police then conducted a traffic stop and asked Steckman to exit the vehicle where he failed his field sobriety test. Steckman was placed into custody for suspicion of Driving Under The Influence and transported to ECPD.

OHIO MAN PLEADS TO SELLING DRUGS IN BUTLER:
Marshall Grimes, age 42, formerly of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty to two counts in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotic and firearm laws, before United States District Judge David S. Cercone last week.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that between May 2018 and December 2018, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and Butler County Drug Task Force conducted an investigation into Marshall Grimes, a known drug dealer from Columbus, OH who was operating in Butler, PA. On December 11, 2018, law enforcement received a 911 call regarding the apartment building where Grimes and his co-conspirators distributed narcotics. Thereafter, officers responded and detained Grimes. During a consensual search of the apartments used by Grimes and his associates, law enforcement recovered approximately 280 grams of cocaine, 80 grams of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack, $11,989.00, and a loaded firearm.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for June 7, 2022, at 11:30 am. The law provides for a total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. The defendant remains detained pending sentencing.