POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

THEFT OF SERVICES:
On December 29, 2022 at approximately 12:06 p.m., PA State Police investigated a reported theft of services at Harmony Hardscape & Landscape, located on Route 422, Slippery Rock Township. The victim related that on September 12, 2022, a check, which had been supplied by their customer, in the amount of $3,865.78 had been denied by Wesbanco as having insufficient funds. The victim related that a single payment was made on 11/11/22, but that the victim has been unsuccessful in establishing contact with the customer since the date. An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact PA State Police New Castle, referencing PA 2022-1654754.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT:
Douglas Hazen, 57, of Wampum, is charged with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest after an incident on November 11, 2022. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 10:54 a.m., police on routine patrol on Wampum Road, Wayne Township, observed Hazen working on a red truck in a front yard of a residence on Wampum Road. Hazen has a known warrant for his arrest and
police attempted to make contact with Hazen. As officers approached, Hazen dropped his tools and began to walk towards the residence and later began running on foot to enter his house and proceed to lock the door. According to the report, Hazen proceeded to flee on foot out the back door into a wooded area and a barn in the back of the residence. Police made entry and found Hazen behind a door and gave commands to exit for which Hazen did not obey. Hazen passively resisted and his hands had to be forced behind his back to be cuffed. Hazen was ultimately transported to Lawrence County Jail and housed on his warrant.

RETAIL THEFT:
Sadie Becker, 36, of New Castle, is charged with Retail Theft, Disorderly Conduct and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after an incident on December 9, 2022. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 5:54 p.m., police were dispatched to a Dollar General store on US 422, Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County and spoke with the store assistant manager. The manager advised police an unknown female, later identified as Becker, who has stolen from the store prior had entered the store and asked for merchandise from a back room. When the manager was in the back of the store, Becker could be seen on surveillance putting items in her purse and handbag.  On December 14th, police were dispatched the same Dollar General for another reported theft by the actor, Becker, whom police identified and obtained a search of her motor vehicle to find drug paraphernalia, namely a glass pipe with burnt residue and a pink metal pipe with burnt residue,  and stolen items.

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Janice Cercone, 41, of Hubbard, Ohio, faces charges after a reported assault incident on January 3rd. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 10:16 p.m., police were dispatched to a residence in Fredericks Mobile Home Park, New Beaver Borough, Lawrence County for a reported assault. According to the report, police found a victim with signs of a recently bodily injury to her head and face and both the victim and her husband identified Cercone, who had been living at the residence, as the actor. The victim’s husband was observed to have marks on his arm sustained when attempting to stop the assault.  Cercone is charged with Simple Assault and Harassment

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Holliann Smiley, 23, of Ellwood City, is charged with Simple Assault and Harassment after an incident on Christmas day. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 4:09 p.m., a female victim told Ellwood City Police she was assaulted by Smiley at a residence on Duncan Avenue, Ellport Borough. The victim told police that her and her fiancé went to a house to complete a custody exchange to find Smiley screaming and ordering one child out of a car. Smiley threw a punch and struck the victim and spit in her face before the victim could drive off and call 911.

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Benjamin Stiffler, 40, of Ellwood City is charged with Simple Assault and Harassment after an incident in early December. According to a criminal complaint Ellwood City Police were flagged down near Uni-Mart by a victim who told officers at the police station she was just assaulted by Stiffler at a residence on Fifth Street, Ellwood City. The victim stated Stiffler got upset with her and he later accused her of going through his belongings and dragged her out of her bed and struck her in the face. Officers went to the residence in an attempt to speak with Stiffler but no one answered the door. Stiffler later called the police station and advised he is going to contact his attorney.

ILLEGALLY OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE:
According to a criminal complaint, police initiated a traffic stop on December 4, 2022 at the 900 block of Beech Way, for a 2000 Plymouth Voyager for an expired registration. The vehicle was operated by Lisa Wright, 43, of Fombell, whom possessed an ignition interlock type operators license. The vehicle was found not to be equipped with an ignition interlock system. Wright is charged with Illegally Operating A Motor Vehicle Not Equipped w Ignition Interlock and Registration and Certificate of Title Required.

DUI:
Brienna Ashworth, 22, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on November 29, 2022. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 1:52 a.m., police observed a Black Kia Sedona traveling at a high rate of speed on 5th Street, Ellwood City, and found the vehicle registration to be suspended. A traffic stop was initiated and when the vehicle was approached by officers, multiple prescription containers were observed in plain view and Ashworth was found disoriented and drowsy. Ashworth presented an expired ID card and failed a field sobriety test. Ashworth was placed into custody for DUI and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.

DUI:
Charles Broadwater, 39, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on November 15, 2022. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 10:24 p.m., police observed a Ford Escape traveling on Crescent Avenue near Sixth Street with a rear hatch completely open. Police attempted a traffic stop for which the vehicle vailed to yield until it reached an intersection. When officers approached the vehicle, Broadwater’s speech was slurred and appeared confused. Police asked where he was coming from and going to and Broadwater did not know. While speaking with Broadwater police detected the odor of alcohol and marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Police asked Broadwater to exit the vehicle to perform a field sobriety test for which Broadwater immediately refused.
Broadwater was taken into custody for suspected DUI.

DUI:
Mario Greco, 28, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on November 20, 2022. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:10 a.m., police were dispatched to an area of Bridge Street and Line Avenue and flagged down by three males for a reported vehicle in the roadway with a male driver passed out behind the wheel. Officers approached the vehicle and observed Greco
conscious but not alert. Officers noted a overwhelming odor of alcohol and asked Greco to exit the vehicle to complete a field sobriety test for which he failed. Greco was placed into custody and transported to ECPD and a nearby hospital for a blood draw.

DUI:
Shannon Smith, 35, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after an accident on October 5, 2022. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 11:13 p.m., police were called to an area on Wampum Avenue for a report of an motor vehicle accident. Responding officers could not locate anyone inside or around the vehicle, but the caller reported the operated attempting to leave the area and gave a description of the driver. Police patrolling the nearby area observed a female outside Weisz Hazel Manor, later identified as Smith. Smith described the accident to officers whom observed the odor of alcohol and her speech to be slurred. Police asked Smith to undergo a field sobriety test for which she refused and Smith was placed under arrest and transported to ECPD where she later was
administered the field sobriety tests and failed.

DUI:
Lori Kennedy, 43, of East Liverpool, Ohio, is charged with DUI and Careless Driving after a crash on October 20, 2022. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 4:14 a.m., police were dispatched to a one vehicle accident on Wampum Road, north of Jockey Moore Rd, Wayne Township. It was determined a unit traveling north went off the roadway to the right and struck an embankment and fallen tree before coming to final rest. Police made contact with the operator who was with EMS and who was found to have the odor of alcohol coming from her breath and slurred speech. Kennedy was also observed to have white powder residue in both her nostrils.  Kennedy was asked to take a field sobriety test and breathalizer which showed a significant presence of alcohol. Kennedy was placed under arrest and taken to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.