POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
According to a police report, two unknown white males proceeded to operate a Farmall tractor with a brush hog attachment and mow approximately 1,000 feet of wooded area along private property lines at Del-Mar Golf Course in Wayne Township. The incident was reported to have taken place between the times of June 25th at midnight and June 26th at 9:53 a.m. While police were on scene, trail cameras were reviewed along with a neighbor canvassed none of which yielded with identifying the potential suspects. The investigation is ongoing.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS:
Three arrests were made stemming from an incident reported on April 30, at 11:11 a.m. in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County. According to the report, PA State Police were called to check on the welfare of animals at a residence on New Bedford Sharon Road, Pulaski Township. Upon arrival, police determined the animals, consisting of 5 dogs, were in poor health, neglected and malnourished. While police were on scene one dog died due to it’s health condition, later determined to be starvation, belonging to Gabriel Fazekas, 32, of West Middlesex. A warrant was obtained for the residence resulting in Deven Cameron, 23, of West Middlesex, to surrender the other four alive dogs that were in need of treatment. Charges have been filed through MDJ 53-3-04 on Fazekas, Cameron, and Tracy Zingaro,
52, of West Middlesex, for aggravated cruelty to animals, cruelty to animals, neglect of animals, applications do license and vaccination against rabies. Through the help of the Lawrence County Humane Society and The Anaa Shelter out of Erie, PA the four surrendered dogs retrieved treatment and placement.

BURGLARY:
James Raisor, 46, of Prospect, is charged with Burglary after an incident on June 17th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 2:18 p.m., police were dispatched to a residence on Old Pittsburgh Road, Wayne Township for a reported burglary. Police interviewed the female victim whom related that upon her return home from work she was not greeted by her dog and became concerned someone took the dog from her residence. The victim checked her surveillance cameras and observed her ex-boyfriend, Raisor, on her front porch forcing entry into the residence and later leaving the home with the dog. Police reviewed the same surveillance and confirmed the adult entry and escape with the dog. Raisor is charged with Burglary, Theft by Unlawful Taking, and Criminal Trespassing.

CHILD PORNOGRAPHY:
According to a criminal complaint, Cecil Roof, Jr., 37, of Ellwood City has been arrested on Child Pornography charges after police reported finding hundreds of images of child pornography on his phone. He previously pled guilty in March and now faces fifty felony charges and has been placed in Lawrence County Jail on $100,000 bond. According to the complaint, police obtained a search warrant for Roof’s phone and found sexual images of female children ranging from age three to mid-to-late teens. The content included photos and videos of children either nude, partially nude or performing sexual acts on adults or other children. According to reports, Roof has been sentenced to 18-36 months in state prison for the charges and will also be sentenced to one year of probation following his release from prison and to be registered as a sexual offender for 15 years.

HOMICIDE:
Nicole L. Schwartz, 36, of Ellwood City, is charged with two felony counts of homicide, related to the death of a 32-year-old Columbus man who perished earlier this month in Muddy Creek Township. Daniel Lloyd, 19, of Pitcairn, is also charged with the same two counts but has yet to be arrested according to reports. According to a report, Schwartz claims her current boyfriend “K” hid in the cargo area
of her SUV while she picked up Orr, her ex-boyfriend, from Butler County Prison and that “K” was the one who shot and killed Orr. District Judge Lewis Stoughton denied Schwartz bond and she is now in Butler County Prison.

BURGLARY:
On June 28th at approximately 11:53 a.m. PA State Police responded to a report of burglary on Alpha Drive, Wampum Borough. According to the report, it was determined that Robert Grim forced entry into the complex and stole medication, cash, and a debit card belonging to the 68-year-old male victim. Grim then went to an ATM and withdrew cash from the victims account and fled the scene in a stolen green and silver Chevy Silverado. Charges are filed through MDJ: 53-3-01.

DUI:
On June 21 at approximately 12:04 p.m. PA State Police responded to a one vehicle crash involving a 2018 Chevy Trax on Wurtemburg Road, Wayne Township. On scene it was found the driver was under the influence of prescribed medications and appeared impairs. The 48-year-old female driver, of Ellwood City, was placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI with charges pending blood results.

DUI:
William Maine, 51, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after an incident on June 22nd. According to a criminal complaint, Ellwood City Police were on patrol near the drive-thru of the Ellwood City McDonald’s when they observed a car horn blow and the individual yelling, exiting the vehicle, and stumbling around the vehicle in an attempt to get back inside of it. Police later observed the vehicle later exit the drive thru and drive at a high rate of speed on Fountain Avenue, crossing the double yellow center line and white lines several times. Officers initiated their emergency lights and siren to pursue the erratic vehicle down Portersville Road. The vehicle eventually stopped at the intersection of Railroad Street and Duncan Avenue and, according to the complaint, the driver gave officers the middle finger and state “I’m not stopping”. The vehicle continued and finally turned into a driveway on Grim Avenue. Maine later exited the vehicle and took a fighting stance and became combative with officers. Officers deployed a taser and placed Maine in handcuffs. Maine was slurring his speech and had odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from him. Maine was returned to ECPD.

DUI:
Joseph Reynolds, 36, of Harmony, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on May 20th on Lawrence Avenue. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 10:21 p.m., police responded to a reported male in a vehicle slumped over the steering wheel. Upon arrival, police observed the male unconscious with the vehicle on but whom later attempted to begin to drive away. Police questioned
Reynolds whom reported he was tired from working all day. Police observed Reynolds to have slow, delayed responses and had no idea what area he was currently located. When asked to exit the vehicle, police observed a digital weigh scale in the drivers side door pocket later seized by police. Police also observed a glass pipe with suspected marijuana in plain view in the vehicle. Reynolds was asked to complete a field sobriety test to which he failed. Reynolds was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.

DUI:
Sean McCaslin, 45, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on June 6th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 1:25 a.m., police conducted a stop on Golf Avenue on a vehicle with no operating registration lamps. McCaslin showed signs of impairment, failed his field sobriety test and was placed
under arrest for DUI and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.

DUI:
Paula Aspeotes, 49, of New Castle, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on May 27th in Wayne Township. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 2:07 p.m., police operating a stationary radar on River Road observed a red Ford F150 speeding resulting in a traffic stop. Aspeotes was approached and showed signs of impairment and police later observed multiple pill bottles in
Aspeotes’ purse. Police asked to see the pill bottles and Aspeotes handed officers five pill bottles and some medical marijuana.  Aspeotes did have a medical marijuana card but could not provide prescriptions for the other pills. Aspeotes was unable to complete the field sobriety test and was placed under arrest on scene for DUI and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.