POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

INDECENT ASSAULT OF A MINOR:
Micah Peffer, 31, of Ellwood City is charged with Indecent Assault, Corruption of Minors, and Harrassment after an incident in October. According to a criminal complaint, and on October 13th, police were called to a residence on Loop Street for a disturbance. Upon arrival, Peffer and another man were in an altercation after the man received a call that his 12-year-old daughter was touched inappropriatelyl by Peffer. The girl told police that Peffer grabbed her chest and buttocks while she was sitting on a neighboring porch, an account for which two witnesses corroborated. The girl was staying with at a nearby residence while her father was out of town on work and Peffer was at the same residence. One witness told police she made Peffer leave the residence after the act that caused the girl to become visibly upset. A forensic interview with the victim was conducted by police and police later interviewed Peffer whom denied the incident. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

TRESPASSING:
On October 29th at approximately 7:29 p.m., PSP New Castle was dispatched to Possum Hollow Road, New Beaver Township, Lawrence County for reports of a trespass. Upon arrival it was determined that a group of approximately 50+ individuals operating 17 off road vehicles left the property of Mines and Meadows and went onto the victims property.

PFA VIOLATION:
On October 23rd at 5:49 p.m., PSP New Castle was dispatched to Green Meadow Trailer Court in New Galilee, New Beaver Borough, Lawrence County, for a PFA violation/harassment. On scene police interviewed Victim #1 at her residence. She said that her ex-boyfriend (Arrestee) who she has a temporary PFA, violated it. She said that at approximately 5:40 p.m. the Arrestee walked up the road and made a hand gun shape with his hand and pointed it at her and Victim #2 and Victim #3. After he did that he made a hand motion that he was cutting at his own neck. All three victims felt that meant he was going to kill them all. Indirect Criminal Contempt was filed for Victim #1 at the Lawrence County Courthouse on 10/24/22. Two citations were filed for harassment for Victim #2 and #3 at MDJ Ruso’s on 10/24/22.

PRIVATE PROPERTY CRASH:
On October 22nd at approximately 5:25 p.m., Pennsylvania State Police-New Castle was called to Mines and Meadows ATV Park, 1307 Old Route 18, Wampum Borough, Lawrence County for an ATV Rollover incident. On scene it was discovered that a 34-year old male had been involved in a single vehicle accident and sustained severe injuries. The victim was transported to St. Elizabeth- Youngstown Hospital by Noga EMS for further evaluation. Assisted on scene by Wampum VFD, New Beaver VFD, and NOGA EMS.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS:
On October 22nd at approximately 9:45 p.m, police were dispatched to Mount Jackson Road for a Dog Law Violation. Upon arrival at the scene 2 dogs were outside of the gas station TicTok. The dogs were barking and scaring customers of TicTok. The dogs were taken back to the residence of the dogs owner. The dogs owner was not at her residence at the time of the incident. The dogs had identifying colors Dog one, is black in color with a white stripe located on the head and appeared to be a mixed breed. Dog two is brown and black in color and appeared to be a Pitbull. As a result of this incident the owner of the two dogs will be cited with dog law. Act 119 section 459 -305 (A)(2) Defendant being owner or caretaker of the two dogs did fail to confine them on her property.

RETAIL THEFT:
Kortney May, 31, of Ellwood City is charged with Retail Theft after an incident on October 20th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:00 a.m., police were contacted by the manager of the Ellwood City 7-11 gas station in reference to a theft. Police reviewed surveillance footage that shows a women enter the store at 3:23 a.m, walk around, and place items in a coat pocket and turn away. Police were able to identify May. Items taken from the store include two Nemo Banana cakes valued at $5.00.  A report would be documented and retail theft charges are filed on May.

RETAIL THEFT:
Richard Worrell, 32, of Butler, is charged with Retail Theft after an incident on October 13th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:04 p.m., police were called to the Ellwood City Dollar General on West Lawrence Avenue for a reported retail theft. The store manager advised the suspect went to a self checkout lane, scanned items and left without paying. Police reviewed surveillance footage, later identified as Worrell, scan a bottle of Pepsi, a Fastbreak candy bar, Monster Energy drink, and a bottle of cough syrup totaling a value of $10.42.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT:
Joshua Hall, 34, of Ellwood City is charged with Aggravated Assault, Harrassment, and Simple Assault after an incident on October 31st in Wayne Township. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:18 a.m., police were dispatched to a residence on Spring Avenue for reports of an active domestic violence. Upon arrival police spoke with the victim whom related that she was awoke to Hall choking her until she blacked out. The victim later came to and left the house to a neighboring house. The victim related that Hall ripped the neighbor off his porch and grabbed the victim again to throw her on the ground. The victim was found with dirty clothes, wet and covered in weeds and also found to have bruising on her neck and around her nose and eyes.

THEFT OF VEHICLE PARTS:
On November 7th at approximately 2:30 a.m., PSP responded to a theft which occurred on Harlansburg Rd, Scott Twp, Lawrence County, PA. The actor(s) stole two catalyic converters from a 2015 ram 2500. Investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information call PSP New Castle at 724-598-2211.

THEFT ALL OTHER:
On November 9th at 12:00AM, PSP New Castle responded to a theft of a mailbox which occurred on Nashua Rd in Wilmington Twp. Anyone with information call PSP New Castle at 724-598-2211.

CRASH:
According to a report and on November 12th at approximately 7:02 p.m., a crash occurred as 2005 Ford Mustang driven by a 20-year-old Ellwood City male was traveling down hill on Wilson Ave. towards River Road in Perry Township, Lawrence County, PA. The operator related that he heard a noise and the vehicle started pulling towards the right. Operator  related he attempted to turn the wheel to the left, but the vehicle continued right. Operator related he hit the brakes to stop and slid on gravel that subsequently caused him to strike Unit 2 in the 1 o’clock position. Unit 2 was a parked vehicle. Unit 1 and 2 were disabled as a result of the crash. No injuries occurred as a result of the crash. Unit 1 towed from scene by Wallace Towing. Assisted on scene by Wurtemburg-Perry Voluneer Fire Dept, Medvac Ambulance Service, and Wallace Towing.

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Ralph Berdine, 53, of East Liverpool OH, is charged with Simple Assault and Harassment after an incident on October 25th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 10:20 p.m., police were called to a residence on Franklin Avenue for a domestic disturbance. The caller advised police there were two people in a physical altercation at the residence. Police interviewed the caller and witnesses whom related that Berdine was heard arguing with his girlfriend.  The argument turned into a physical altercation when one witness, the son of the female in the altercation with Berdine, interjected with Berdine after finding Berdine grabbing his mother by the throat. Berdine was questioned by officers and was later taken into custody for Simple Assault and Harassment.

DUI ON VIEW COMBINATION ALC/DR:
On October 24th at approximately 8:21 p.m., at State Route 18, PSP New Castle was dispatched to the report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival it was observed that the operator of the vehicle displayed signs of impairment. Operator of vehicle was arrested for suspicion of DUI, pending results.

ATTEMPTED POSSESSION OF COCAINE:
A New Castle man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced this week. The one-count Indictment, returned on Nov. 1 and unsealed yesterday following his arrest, named Brandon Leroy McConnell, 34, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about May 14, 2021, McConnell did knowingly attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. McConnell was the intended recipient of a United States Postal Service parcel that contained this controlled substance. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000. or both. 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. The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.