POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT:
Franklin Cesare-Hesse, 33, of Ellwood City, is charged with Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, and Harassment after an incident on February 20th. According to the criminal complain, and at approximately 4:24 p.m., police were dispatched to a residence on Portersville Road, Perry Township, for a report of an individual who had been shot with a pellet gun. Police learned Cesare-Hesse shot someone over an argument and left the scene. On site, police interviewed witnesses who told police that the victim came to the residence with a girlfriend to borrow a vehicle and that Cesare-Hesse came out of the residence telling the victim he needed to leave. Cesare-Hesse is suspected to have previously worked for the victim and felt he was owed money for work he did for the victim and never received payment. According to the witness report, Cesare-Hesse later pulled out the pellet gun and shot the victim twice, once in the leg and once more in the head.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
Matthew Robinson, 22, of Wampum, is charged with Criminal Mischief and Harrassment after an incident on January 29th. According to the criminal complaint, and at 8:48 p.m., police were dispatched to a residence on Elm Lane, New Beaver Borough, for a reported disturbance. The complainant, and father of Robinson, related he had gotten into a physical argument with his son, later identified as Robinson. The complainant related Robinson damaged property after he was found parked in the driveway of a neighboring residence which belongs to his mother. The complainant who lives next door related he went to check on Robinson and found him drunk. An argument ensued and the complainant related Robinson throw a stool at him and threw a rock at the complainant’s vehicle. The victim is seeking restitution for repairs totaling $977.85 for damages. Police attempted to call Robinson multiple times on scene with negative results.

THEFT BY DECEPTION:
On February 20th at approximately 9:49 a.m.., PA State Police received a report of theft by deception. A 62-year-old female victim and 60-year-old male victim was scammed out of approximately $1,000 dollars. The actor(s) claimed to be selling 2 dogs and were located in PA. After the transaction was complete the actor(s) stated that they would not be able to meet the victim to make delivery of the animals. The actor(s) then referred the victim to the shipping company, Air Animal Pet Movers. The actor(s) then extorted approximately $4,000 dollars. This was done while stating various fees and services were required to ship the animals. According to the police report, the total amount lost during this incident totals approximately $4,000.00. An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information, please call PSP New Castle 724-598-2211

MARCH 30, 2023 – Veterinarian Walter Woolf, the CEO of Air Animal, Inc. confirmed that Air Animal is not involved in this scam and is frequently the target of scammers in the United States and around world. Air Animal does not transport puppies, kittens or animals rescued or purchased over the Internet.

THEFT BY DECEPTION:
Shaun Riley, 42, of West Pittsburg, is charged with Theft by Deception after an incident in January 2023. According to the criminal complaint, a victim came to Ellwood City Police to report a theft and stated that he reached out to Riley to have a door installed at his residence. The victim stated that Riley came to his residence and gave him a price and the victim paid with a check. Ten days after Riley stated he would begin work, the victim claimed to want his money back but Riley answered back stating “I’ll be honest with you, I used your money to pay my insurances and have been waiting on a check from another customer to get your materials.” Riley has not completed any work and has not yet paid the victim. Police contacted Riley and advised him that he has until January 25, 2023 to bring the check, in the amount of $1,800 to the ECPD for repayment, otherwise he will be charged.

RESISTING ARREST:
Aaron Sofelkanich, 43, of Ellwood City, is charged with Resisting Arrest after an incident on February 7th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 2:17 p.m., police were dispatched to a residence on Dutch Ridge Road, Wayne Township to take Sofelkanich into custody for a 302 commitment. Upon arrival, police observed Sofelkanich standing outside, behind his truck and next to a small fire. Police made contact with Sofelkanich who appeared to be intoxicated and found with a bottle of whiskey on the bed of his truck. Police informed him of of his arrest, but Sofelkanich struggled with officers who were attempted to place him in handcuffs and police had to forcibly take him to the ground.

OVERDOSE:
On February 11th at approximately 4:00 p.m., PA State Police New Castle investigated a reported overdose at a residence on Pleasant Hill Road, Perry Township. NOGA EMS personnel successfully revived an unconscious 40-year-old female using Narcan and transported her to a nearby hospital. Per Pennyslvania Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Immunity Law, this incident will not be prosecuted.

DUI:
David Locke, 67, of Ellwood City is charged with DUI after an accident on January 17th. According to the criminal complaint, police received a call in reference to a hit and run accident outside of Pizza Joes. The caller related a male driver backed into her parked car and drove away. Police used registration plate information from the caller to learn it was Locke and whom police have had prior dealings with while under the influence of alcohol. Police went to his residence to speak with him and found Locke to be under the influence of alcohol and unable to stand upright without swaying. Police related he had hit a parked car and Locke answered he didn’t know he backed into the vehicle and shouldn’t have been driving. Upon admission of being drunk, police placed Locke under arrest for DUI and was transported to ECPD and later a nearby hospital for a blood draw.

DUI:
James Raybuck, 41, of Ellwood City is charged with DUI after an accident on January 4th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 6:36 p.m. and while on patrol, police hear a vehicle crash near their station and observed a black vehicle in the drive-thru of Burger King hanging over the curb into a adjacent parking lot. Police found the driver, Raybuck, whom exited the vehicle while the vehicle was still in drive. Upon speaking with Raybuck, police observed a strong odor of alcohol and Raybuck to be acting erratically. Police later found an open container of beer and several other alcohol containers open inside the vehicle and on Raybuck. Raybuck, who briefly resisted arrest, was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to ECPD and later a nearby hospital for a blood draw.

DUI:
Andrew Sorbo, 65, of Wampum, is charged with DUI after a hit and run accident on January 21st. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:06 a.m., police were dispatched to Wampum Avenue for a reported hit and run accident. A caller reported someone had drove through his yard and took out his mailbox. Officers then located a tan bumper with a Toyota logo as well as other vehicle parts in the front yard of another residence on Wampum Avenue. Police later located a Toyota sedan with heavy front end damage at residence on State Route 18, Wampum Borough, where they made contact with Sorbo. While speaking with Sorbo police observed a strong odor of alcoholice beverage and after asking Sorbo if he had been drinking, Sorbo stated “yes we drank a lot, we are drunk.” Sorbo was placed into custody for suspicion of DUI and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.

DUI:
Amanda Crowl, 38, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on February 20th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:16 p.m. while on patrol, police observed a silver Lincoln MKZ traveling on the S Innerbelt in New Castle with an expired registration. Police later conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Crowl, who was found to have a suspended license. Police asked Crowl to exit the vehicle and for consent to search that discovered a glass smoking device containing trace amounts of suspected crack cocaine. While speaking with Crowl police noted signs of impairment. Crowl was asked to complete a field sobriety test for which she failed.  Crowl was read a DL-26 on scene and refused chemical testing. Crowl was released as per Rule 519. All evidence belonging to Crowl was taken to PSP New Castle and placed into evidence.