POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
Jason Mulig, 47, of Ellwood City is charged with Criminal Mischief and Public Drunkeness after an incident on November 6, 2022. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 3:27 p.m., police officers were dispatched to the area of First Street, near Keystone Bar, due to Mulig jumping onto a victim’s car and damaging the hood. Upon reviewing surveillance, it showed Mulig walking from across Fountain Avenue and jumping onto the hood of the vehicle causing $2,388.13 in damage and then finished what appeared to be an alcoholic beverage and threw it into the side of the building. Mulig was taken into custody and transported to ECPD for holding and later released.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT:
Ronald Davis, 52, is charged with Disorderly Conduct, Harassment, and Terroristic Threats after an incident on January 23rd. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 4:38 p.m.,, ECPD Officers were dispatched to a residence on Park Avenue for a reported disturbance. When police arrived and spoke to the reporting party, they advised they were sent to allow Davis and Amy Cisco back into the premise to gather prescription medicine. The victim related that Davis arrived at the residence and pushed the victim, made threats, and reached behind his back and told the victim he had a knife and would gut him like a pig. Davis then took off in his Dodge SUV at a high rate of speed.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS:
A 34-year-old Ellwood City man is charged with cruelty to animals after an incident on January 20th. According to a report, and at 7:00 p.m., PA State Police were dispatched to a residence on Woodside Avenue, Wayne Township and found that the man struck a dog multiple times with a closed fist and the leash.

BURGLARY NO FORCE:
On January 21st at approximately 11:33 a.m. PA State Police were dispatched to a residence on Portersville Road, Ellwood City for a reported burglary. Upon arrival it was determined that no individuals were inside the residence, and no individuals have been seen entering or leaving. The investigation is ongoing.

INDECENT ASSAULT:
Eric Taggart, 42, of Koppel, is charged with 113 sex crimes after various reported encounters with a minor from Ohio. According to a police report, in late December 2022 the PA State Police initiated a criminal investigation into reported sexual assaults of a juvenile by a male family member that occurred on numerous occasions at a residence in Koppel Borough, Beaver County. Based on their investigation, Taggart was taken into custody by the PA State Police at the residence on January 20th and housed in the Beaver County jail. Taggart is accused of various sexual assaults that happened when Taggart had indecent contact with a 15-year-old girl on various dates from January to July 2022. Charges against Taggart include but are not limited to aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors, unlawful contact with minors, sexual abuse of children and the creation of child porn.

FEDERAL DRUG CRIMES:
Shawn Denning, 41, and the Chief of the Greensburg (Pennsylvania) Police Department, has been arrested and charged with six counts of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy Chung announced on Wednesday. The complaint alleges that Denning facilitated the acquisition of cocaine and methamphetamine by Confidential Source 1 (CS1) multiple times over a 16-month period between June 2021 and October 2022. The drugs were sourced in California and Arizona, then delivered to CS1 via the United States mail. The six count reportedly alleges the chief narcotics dealings with a federal confidential informant last year in a Franklin Township park. The complaint cites a recorded conversation between the source and Denning at an Oct. 8 corn hole tournament in Ellwood City. At the event, the complaint indicates, Denning gave a set of corn hole bags to the source, to make up for the source losing money through a $500 purchase of drugs that weren’t delivered by an additional out-of-state supplier for whom Denning had vouched. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Denning was released on a $250,000 unsecured bond. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

HIDTA OPERATION #40:
On January 20, 2023, detectives from the Lawrence County District Attorney’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Group (HIDTA) executed two coordinated sealed search warrants in the city of New Castle. The District Attorney’s HIDTA group utilized the Lawrence County Critical Incident Response Team to make entry into 317 East Wallace Avenue. The targets of the investigation were discovered in the house along with 8.1 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl, 3.6 grams of suspected cocaine, 6.9 grams of suspected crack cocaine, three handguns, suspected drug paraphernalia and $12,547.00 in U.S. currency. The second location targeted by the District Attorney’s HIDTA group was the suspected “stash house” located at 621 South Ray Street. A search of this location produced 114.4 grams of suspected cocaine, 86.8 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine, 550.4 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl, 14 Suboxone strips, 8 handguns, a pill press, suspected drug contraband and $300 in U.S. currency. This investigation was led by a Union Township Police Officer serving as a member of the HIDTA group and participating in the operations were NCPD, ECPD, and Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General. The following individuals were charged with multiple counts of possession with intent to deliver, gun violations and other drug paraphernalia charges: Mr. Courtney Johnson and Ms. Kelsey Parks.

DUI:
Norberto Cantu, 31, of Rochester, is charged with DUI after an accident on January 25th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 11:04 p.m., police were dispatched to the Fifth Street Bridge for an accident. Upon arrival, it was found the occupants of the vehicle, a red Dodge Ram 1500, left on foot. Officers spoke with a caller who advised that two people exited and walked north while an off duty officer also observed a male and female in an alley on Arthur Way. Officers made contact with the driver, Cantu, whom was slurring his speech, smelled of alcohol, and advise he fled the scene. The passenger of the vehicle advised police that Cantu had been drinking for most of the day, consuming approximately six beers, and that she did throw an open, half drank beer over the side of the bridge. Police conducted a field sobriety test for which Cantu failed. Cantu was placed under arrest for DUI and transporred to ECPD.

DUI:
Linsey Watson, 21, of Portersville, is charged with DUI after an accident on December 11, 2022. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:17 a.m., police were dispatched to an area of Portersville Road in Ellport Borough for an accident. Upon arrival, a Hyundia Sonata was in the middle of the road with severe damage to the front passenger side. Police made contact with the driver, Watson, whom smelled of a strong odor of an intoxicating beverage and refused medical treatment from the responding EMS. Watson was asked to take a field sobriety test for which she failed. Watson was place dunder arrest for DUI and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.