POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
On February 26th at approximately 1:17 a.m., PA State Police investigated a report of criminal mischief near a residence on Heinz Camp Road, Wayne Township. According to the report, a 31-year-old female victim from Ellwood City related that she was contacted by a female friend requesting a ride home due to an ongoing argument with her boyfriend. When the victim arrived on scene, the vehicle she was operating was punched by Brandon Holsinger, 25, of Ellwood City, causing a large dent to the front passenger door of a 2012 Mazda. No injuries were reported and charges against Holsinger have been filed.

HEAD-ON VEHICLE CRASH:
On February 25th at approximately 6:44 p.m., PA State Police received a call of a two vehicle crash on SR18, Homewood Borough. According to the report, it was determined that Kia Sorento with three occupants was traveling the wrong way on Route 18, traveling northbound in the southbound lane. The Kia struck a Chevy Suburban head on and came to a final rest in the left lane of SR18. The three occupants, including the 68-year-old female driver were all reported from Fairmont, WV, and all were flown to a nearby hospital for life threatening injuries. The 18-year-old male driver of the Chevy Suburban sustained minor injuries. Assisting on scene: Beaver Falls Fire Department, Koppel Fire Department, Koppel Police Department, Harmony EMS, Medevac EMS, Noga EMS, and Sullis Towing.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT:
Sierra Johnston, 24, of Wampum, is charged with Disorderly Conduct and Marijuana Possession after a traffic stop on February 7th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:47 a.m., police witnessed a vehicle speeding on River Road and on the left half of the roadway and initiated a traffic stop. While speaking with Johnston police observed the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and Johnston to be without a seatbelt in use. After being given a consent to search, police located marijuana on Johnston and in a wooden box inside the vehicle as well as a glass container containing marijuana in a purse.

USE/POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA:
Richard Hickman II, 52, of Ellwood City, is charged with Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after a traffic stop on February 10th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 5:50 p.m., police received a call in reference to seeing a known drug dealer walking between Fifth Street near Spring Avenue and that a silver Ford SUV picked him up and drove to an eventually stop at Uni-Mart. The passenger leaves the scene and Hickman later exits the store and parking lot. After failing to use a turn signal, police initiated a traffic stop where Hickman advised police of narcotics in the vehicle. Police initiated a search with K9 presences and detected narcotics in the vehicle. The vehicle was towed back to the ECPD to be secured and a search warrant obtained. Hickman was issued a traffic citation and released. Later, the search warrant seized five unused syringes, a used syringe with residue, two bags with power residue and substances inside, and bottle of Oxycodone. Based on this information, Hickman is charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA:
Damon Finley, 47, of Ellwood City, is charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after a sealed search warrant was executed on January 26th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 1:00 p.m., investigators with the Lawrence County HIDTA Task Force, with the assistance of the Ellwood City Police executed a search warrant at 49 Spring Avenue Extension, Ellwood City. While en route to the residence, the target of the investigation, Finley, was observed walking east on Portersville Road from Clyde Street and taken into custody. Finley was taken to his residence to be interviewed by investigators and where Finley related he was unaware if he possessed any controlled substances within the residence. However, while conducting an initial sweep of the residence, drug paraphernalia was observed including weight scales and glass smoking pipes containing residue. The evidence was seized and placed into evidence. Finley is charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

ENDANGER THE WELFARE OF MINORS:
Brent Hendershot, 37, and Katelyn Patterson, 27, both of Ellwood City are each charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of children after an investigation led police to learn of deplorable living conditions at their residence on Haig Street. According to the criminal complaint, on February 28th officers served a search warrant in regards to a welfare check after statements from neighbors, family, friends and landlord concerning the welfare and found no running water in the home, lack of food, urine, feces, garbage and narcotics residue throughout the home. Prior to the search police had attempted to contact Hendershot multiple times where each time he misled police with evasive and conflicting statements to hid their whereabouts. On February 25th, police first initiated a welfare check at the residence, but found it unoccupied and later, through interviews and investigation, located both Hendershot and Patterson, along with their three children at the Ramada Inn in Beaver Falls. CYS was brought in to check on the welfare of the children, a 5-year-old, 3-year-old, and 1-year-old, who appeared to be in good health at the hotel. According to the complaint, when police brought both Hendershot and Patterson back to ECPD for questioning, Patterson related they had been living at the residence up until the prior weekend when Hendershot decided they needed to leave abruptly and during his interview, Hendershot appeared erratic, under extreme narcotics usage and seen bouncing all over the walls of the cell, unable to stand still at any point of time and not asked questions at the time. Hendershot and Patterson are both charged with three counts of Endanger the Welfare of Minors and placed in Lawrence County Jail.