ENDANGERING WELFARE OF CHILD:
On August 2nd at approximately 5:29 p.m., Ellwood City Police were dispatched to an area of Haig Street and Madison Avenue for a caller reporting a 4-year-old girl by herself sitting in the middle of the road. The caller advised no parents around and when police responded to the scene and spoke with the caller they were advised this is an ongoing issue with the child. Officers made contact with the girl and asked where she lived. The girl took officers to a house on Byng Street where police made contact with Tyler Chickos, 26, the father, whom initially refused to give officers any of his personal information and was very reserved. Once Chickos exited the residence officers detected an overwhelming smell of marijuana emanating from within the residence. According to the criminal complaint Chickos was clearly confused why he was being questioned about the safety of his daughter. Chickos later called for his wife to come outside and police detected a strong odor of marijuana from her as well. Police later identified the female as Courtney Chikos, 29, whom refused to cooperated with police. Both parents were advised that Police were notifying CYS about the incident. After policed relayed information of the event, CYS determined the kid(s) were safe to stay in the care of the parents and that CYS would complete a house visit in the coming days. Police advised both Tyler and Courtney Chickos that criminal charges may come from this incident against both of them.
DRUG POSSESSION:
On July 4th at approximately 10:19 p.m. PA State Police initiated a traffic stop on Lawrence Avenue near its intersection with 6th Street on a 2004 Jeep Liberty for driving without its headlights on at nighttime. Upon further investigation, it was determined the operator, Noah Emerick, 18, of Ellwood City, displayed indicators of impairment and subsequently arrested for suspicion of DUI of a controlled substance. Additionally, both the passenger, Dempsey Ferguson, 18, of Ellwood City, and Emerick received additional charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana. Charges associated with this incident will be filed and pending through the office Magisterial District Judge Jerry Cartwright.
USE/POSSESSION:
Michelle Agnello, 28, of Wampum, is charged with Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after a traffic stop in July. According to the criminal complaint, on July 26th at approximately 11:38 a.m, police initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with an expired registration. The driver of the vehicle, Michael Caccia, was determined to be suspended and the passenger and owner of the vehicle, Agnello, did not present insurance on the vehicle. Agnello gave permission to search her purse where police found a small glass jar containing trace amounts of suspected heroin, two used syringes, and a cut red straw containing a suspected controlled substance.
BURGLARY:
On Wednesday, September 20th at approximately 12:32 a.m., PA State Police were dispatched to a Dollar General store location on State Route 18 in Wampum Borough, Lawrence County for a reported burglary. Upon arrival to the scene, the front door to the business was broken and items were taken. The investigation is ongoing.
BURGLARY:
On September 8th at approximately 5:20 a.m., there was a report of an attempted burglary at Cox’ Corner, located on Mercer Street, Pulaski Township, Lawrence County. According to the investigation, two masked and gloved male actors in a silver pick-up truck pulled into the business and attempted to force entry into the business by striking the glass entrance door several times causing approximately $500.00 in damages. The actors were unable to break in and soon left, heading east on PA-208. It was later discovered the same actors were involved in a similar burglary in the northern portion of Mercer County and that the silver pickup truck was stolen out of the City of New Castle. This incident may be related to a series of other convenience store burglaries that have occurred in Lawrence County where the actors are targeting smaller stores and stealing cigarettes. If anyone has information about the actors or could provide surveillance video regarding this or similar incidents or suspicious activity within the area, please contact PA State Police New Castle at 724-658-2211 and refer incident number PA22-1159816. The investigation is ongoing.
SUICIDE ATTEMPT:
On August 14th at approximately 5:31 a.m., PA State Police responded to a location on Whieldon Avenue, Perry Township, Lawrence Avenue for a report of a female who attempted suicide by allegedly taking a quantity of various pills along with an alcoholic beverage. The female was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment.
DUI:
Donald Frelin II, 33, of Ellwood City is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on August 20th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 2:10 a.m., police observed a vehicle stopped at a posted stop sign at Squaw Run Road at its intersection with Route 65 with its driver leaned forward and not moving. Police approached the vehicle to find it in gear and an open alcoholic beverage in the passenger compartment. Frelin was awoke and asked to exit the vehicle to submit a field sobriety test for which he failed and was taken into custody and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.
DUI:
Kyle Weller, 31, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after a traffic incident on August 26th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 9:07 a.m., Ellwood City Police responded to a motor vehicle accident on 1000 block of Beaver Avenue, Ellwood City. Police were advised a vehicle struck two parked cars and all parties involved were on scene. Police responded to find a 2013 Chevy Sonic wrecked into two parked cars and made contact with its driver, Weller, whom had a smell of an intoxicated beverage coming from his breath. Weller was asked to perform a field sobriety test for which he failed and was taken into custody and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.
DUI:
Malachi Copeland, 21, of Leesport, PA, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on Lawrence Avenue in April 2022. According to a criminal complaint, while conducting a DUI Checkpoint on West Lawrence Avenue, Wayne Township, police stopped a 2006 Honda Civic traveling east on Lawrence Avenue and approached the vehicle to make contact with Copeland. Copeland was found to have a distinct smell of burnt marijuana emanating from inside the vehicle and appeared incoherent and drowsy. Police asked Copeland if there was marijuana inside the vehicle to which he related there was not because “he smoked it all.” With permission from Copeland searched his vehicle to find several freshly burnt blunts in an ash cup. Police conducted a field sobriety test for which Copeland failed and was placed into custody.
RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY:
Isiah Nathaniel Carr, 27, of Ellwood City, is charged with receiving stolen property and resisting arrest after an incident earlier this month. According to a report, Carr was arrested on September 13th in Erie County and was found to be in possession of vehicle keys for a Chevrolet Silverado stolen from North Sewickley Township. Carr attempted to elude police who confronted Carr near Erie Street and Crawford Avenue and Carr was involved in a struggle with officers before officers were able to obtain the keys and place Carr under arrest.
DRUG AND GUN LAW VIOLATIONS:
PITTSBURGH – Jgenus Steele, 23, of New Castle, was convicted of committing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine base trafficking and firearm crimes, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced last week. Steele pled guilty to possessing with intent to distribute and/or distributing cocaine base, fentanyl, and heroin on Dec, 19, 2019, and Feb. 21, 2020, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Feb. 21, 2020. United States District Judge Robert J. Colville scheduled sentencing to occur on Jan. 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a sentence of at least five years to life in prison. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.
Quit being crappy parents!!