POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

HARASSMENT:
On September 24, at approximately 6:43 p.m., PA State Police were dispatched to a known address on Beaver Street, Wampum Borough, for a reported domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, both parties involved, Sharon Norris, 43, and Justin Norris, 45, were separated. One individual was treated at the scene for a minor head injury. Further investigation led to both parties receiving charges of harassment and disorderly conduct will be filed through MDJ 53-3-01.

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
David Carter, 43, of Ellwood City, is charged with Simple Assault and Harassment after an incident on September 28th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 11:39 p.m., police were called to a residence on Franklin Avenue for a drunk male in the street whom a female victim reported to have smashed a beer bottle over her head and broke her wrist. The victim related that Carter had been drinking and taking medicine and got into an argument that led to the assault. Police later located Carter within ten minutes in front of a bar on Lawrence Avenue and was arrested for the assault.

UNLAWFUL CONTACT WITH MINOR:
Jeffrey Cox, 61, of Ellwood City, is charged with Unlawful Contact with a Minor, Indecent Assault, and Corruption of Minors after a 12-year-old female reported incidents to her mother and friends resulting in an investigation. According to a criminal complaint, Cox, whom is a family acquaintance, is reported to have put his hands down her pants on several instances between 2014 and 2017 when he was the family’s babysitter. The girl told forensic interviewers of incidents of Cox touching her inappropriately below her waist that occurred multiple times while they were on his couch watching television and in the presence of her younger brother. Cox told her it was normal behavior and not to tell anyone or she would get in trouble. Police attempted to reach Cox for an interview, but were unable to reach Cox and only received a call from an attorney on his behalf. Based on the statements and investigation, Cox is charged with 10 counts of sexual abuse with contact committed with a minor, 10 counts of indecent assault of a person younger than 13 and one count of corruption of minors. Cox is charged a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Cox.

UNAUTHORIZED USE OF MOTOR VEHICLE:
On September 24, at approximately 6:53 p.m., PA State Police investigated the unauthorized use of a vehicle on Main Street, Wampum Borough. According to the report, Shawntelle Johnson, 47, from New Castle removed the victim’s Jeep Cherokee from the parking lot without her permission. The victim related that Johnson stated she “rented out” the car to her in exchange for drugs and money. Charges have been filed.

DUI:
Christopher Ragula, 44, of Prospect, is charged with DUI after an incident on September 30th. According to the report, and at approximately 10:26 p.m., police responded to a report of a one vehicle crash on Portersville Road, Perry Township. It was determined that Ragula crashed into a guard rail resulting in the 1996 Dodge Chrysler rolling onto the roadway. Ragula was suspected to be driving under the influence of alcohol and was subsequently transported by EMS to a nearby hospital where he was treated for injuries.

DUI:
Steven Ramsey, 36, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after an incident on September 12th. According to the criminal complaint, Ellwood City Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident in the area of Portersville Road and Jamison Avenue. When interviewing the female accident victim, she noted that after the accident involving Ramsey, a vehicle with a female driver stopped and collected a bookbag out of the back of the vehicle driven by Ramsey. Police interviewed Ramsey who appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and was found to have his driving license under a DUI-related suspension. Ramsey was asked to complete a field sobriety test for which he failed and was placed into custody. Ramsey was transported to ECPD and his vehicle was towed from the scene.

DRIVING WITH SUSPENDED LICENSE:
Daniel Schaffer, 49, of Ellwood City is charged with Careless Driving and Driving While Operating Privilege is Suspended after an hit and run motor vehicle accident on September 10th. According to the criminal complaint, a witness reported a car hitting a parked vehicle on Pershing Street near its intersection with Loop Street and continuing south. Police were not able to locate the vehicle, but after speaking with other residents in the area and reviewing surveillance tape, police were able identify Schaffer as the driver.

Operation Daddy’s Home

OPERATION DADDY’S HOME:
On September 29, 2022, the Lawrence County District Attorney’s HIDTA Drug Task Force along with New Castle CIRT executed a sealed search warrant at 2421 Graceland Road, New Castle, PA. The target of the investigation was a juvenile who was allegedly involved in the sale of illegal narcotics and possession of illegal firearms. During the search of the residence, narcotics officers located and seized a .22 caliber assault rifle, Glock 19 9mm, Taurus 9mm and a .38 caliber revolver. Numerous extended weapon magazines and drum magazines were located and seized. Additionally, officers found 4.6 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 3.5 grams of marijuana and a digital weigh scale. The juvenile was charged with 4 counts of possession of a firearm by a minor, 1 count of Possession with Intent and 1 count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Lastly, a juvenile female that had been missing for more than a year had been found in the house and returned to East Coast Authorities.

ATTEMPTED SEX TRAFFICKING:
A Beaver County man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on Receipt of Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor as well as Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced this week. According to the Indictment, on or about May 22, 2021, Mark Kriss, 64, of Freedom, did knowingly receive a visual depiction of a minor using any means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce, namely, the Internet and a cellular telephone, the production of which visual depiction involved the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and that depicted a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Further, Kriss knowingly attempted to solicit the child to engage in a commercial sex act. Specifically, the indictment alleges Kriss was engaged in a text message conversation with the minor and asked the child to send him sexually explicit images of herself. Kriss received the images and also solicited the child to have sex with him for money. Kriss later picked up the child in a church parking lot before taking her to a motel room and sexually assaulting her. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than ten years and up to life in prison, a fine not to exceed $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of at least five years. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.