POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Robert Cearfoss, 59, of Ellwood City, is charged with Simple Assault, Harassment, and Terroristic Threats after an incident on April 23. According to the criminal complaint, at approximately 8:10 p.m. police interviewed the victim at the victim’s mother’s residence and whom related after an argument at the Hazel Manor she was told by Cearfoss to go home and remove her belongings from his house and when Cearfoss returned home a short time later, he grabbed her and threw her to the ground, choked her and threatened to kill her with a kitchen knife. Police located Cearfoss sleeping at his residence and he was placed under arrest. Due to his intoxication levels police were unable to complete a successful interview. Police were able to interview the victim’s mother whom related in part that her daughter called her and said her father was chasing her with a knife and when the mother arrived at the residence to rescue the victim, Cearfoss grabbed her daughter, pushed her against the car and made threats before returning to his house.

BAD CHECKS:
Jim Caminiti, 54, of Ellwood City, is charged with Bad Checks after an incident in March at The Store on 100 Line Avenue, Ellwood City. According to the criminal complaint, the store owner detailed that he was passed a fraudulent check by Caminiti on March 5, 2022. Caminiti requested to cash a check for $1,152.00 issued by Bank of America for a workers compensation claim. Caminiti’s check was cashed and he was provided the cash by the store clerk. The Store attempted to deposit the check but it was returned with a notice of a stop payment. Police attempted to contact Caminiti with no results. The Store also sent certified mail to Caminiti on April 6th but the mail was returned undeliverable.

SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT, DUI ENFORCEMENT:
During the upcoming weekend, Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1, PA State Police New Castle will be conducting DUI enforcement activities throughout Lawrence County. The checkpoint and enforcement will be conducted on roadways determined to be problematic with DUI offenses in order to safeguard motorists traveling through Lawrence County.

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Walter Guffey, 38, of Wampum, is charged with Simple Assault, Terroristic Threats, Harassment, and Aggravated Assault after a domestic incident on April 24th. According to the criminal complaint, at approximately 4:53 a.m., police were dispatched to the area of Main Street, Wampum and made contact with the victim whom suffered severe injuries to her entire face. The victim related that Guffey became upset when she opened the door at his apartment and his dog ran out and that he started hitting her across the face and started to strangle her. The victim was able to get away for a moment but he continued to hit and kick her. Guffey then made her go into the bathroom and take off her clothes, she said, and he slapped her in the face and called her names. She said she got up and ran outside and he followed her out, dragged her back inside and hit her several more times. He had pushed her head into the ground and got a stick and a log and hit her with them, threatening to kill her and her baby. The victim escaped again and ran to a nearby 24-hour business to hide in a bathroom until she was able to get help. Guffey has been a registrant with the state police under Megan’s Law in Pennsylvania and under the national sex offender registry since 2018. His listed primary offense on the registry, which occurred out of state, is lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor victim younger than 16. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

THEFT:
According to a police report, a theft incident occurred between the hours of 2:00 p.m. April 23rd and 3:00 p.m. April 24th whereas an unknown actor(s) proceeded to walk onto a 53-year-old victim’s property and steal a Disney Queen Woman’s Bicycle from the side porch of the residence on Main Street, Wampum Borough. No surveillance was detected on the victim’s residence or surrounding areas. While on scene, a neighborhood canvas was conducted with negative results. The investigation into the stolen bicycle valued at $299.99 is ongoing.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
According to a report, on April 23 at approximately 8:37 a.m., an incident occured as unknown actor(s) damaged the side window of a 2013 Ford Edge while parked in front of 124 M and M Lane, New Beaver Boro, Lawrence County. The estimated cost of damage is $500.00.

POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER:
On April 26, 2022, members of the Lawrence County Special Operations Unit (SIU), the New Castle City Police Department and with the assistance of the PA Office of Attorney General executed a search warrant on a residence located at 1911 Hamilton Street in the City of New Castle. Upon making entry into the residence, officers located three individuals inside of the residence, along with 15 Pitbull’s (7 outside and 8 inside). A search of the residence was conducted, officers located 148.6 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl, two bags of crack cocaine (12.6 grams of crack cocaine, marijuana, one Smithfield XDS 9mm handgun loaded with three magazines, $543.00, digital weighing scales and cell phones. The individuals found inside of the residence were identified as Lionell EDWARDS, Kierre CHAMBERS and Victor BROWN. All three were arrested and are being charged with two counts of Possession with the Intent to Deliver (heroin/fentanyl), 1 count of Possession with the Intent to Deliver (crack cocaine), 1 count of possession of drug paraphernalia. EDWARDS and BROWN were also charged with Persons (Felons) not to possess a firearm.