POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

FIREARM SALE OR TRANSFER:
On March 8th at approximately 4:21 p.m., a 35-year-old male from New Castle attempted to purchase a pistol from Dunham’s Sports, but was denied the transaction. According to the police report, the suspect was previously sentenced for receiving stolen property, a misdemeanor of the first degree, prohibiting the transaction. When asked upon the official Firearms Transaction Record, the suspect failed to disclose this information. It is noted that the same suspect was also denied a previous attempt to purchase a shotgun from Walmart in July 2021 and was also denied the transaction for similar reasons. Both incidents are under further investigation.

THEFT:
According to a police report, and on January 21st, a 64-year-old female victim from New Castle sent two paper checks in the mail from her bank account to pay off an outstanding credit card balance. The two checks were apparently intercepted and one was deposited elsewhere, resulting in the loss of $4,031.57, while the other, fortunately, never cleared. Additionally two false checks were then fashioned in the victim’s name, resembling her original checks sent. One of those fraudulent checks cleared, resulting in the loss of $9,170.23, while the other failed to clear. The victim suffered a total loss of $13,201.80 in stolen monies.

OPERATION HAT TRICK

HIDTA Operation Hat Trick:
On April 27th, the District Attorney’s HIDTA Drug Task Force executed a sealed search warrant at 520 Loop Street, Ellwood City. Located inside of the residence was Mr. Chad Hess, the target of the investigation. Search of the residence resulted in the seizure of 5.15 ounces of suspected cocaine, 8.21 pounds of suspected marijuana, 1.7 ounces of suspected psychedelic muschrooms, 16 green unidentified oval pills and 10 Suboxone strips. Also located and seized inside of the residence were numerous digital weigh scales with suspected drug residue, $10,397 in cash, a loaded Smith and Messon 9mm handgun, a Taurus judge 410, revolver, a Mossberg firearm, an A.R. 15 style pistol, and a Winchester rifle. Mr. Hess was charged with 4 counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT:
Joseph Pounds, 29, and Melinda Pounds, 33, both of Ellwood City are charged with Aggravated Assault and Simple Assault after an incident on April 22nd. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 11:20 p.m., Ellwood City Police were dispatched to the Shelby Bar for a fight involving the suspects. Officers arrived at the bar to find a crowd of people, some of whom had suffered cuts and bruises on their faces and two of the injured people were taken away by ambulance. Police said three men, one of whom was knocked unconscious, suffered serious injuries in the fight. It was related to police that Pounds approached one of those three men and repeatedly punched him in the face and the man fell to the ground and Pounds kicked him in the face. Pounds was later found walking on Fountain Avenue and taken into custody without incident. While in custody and in a police cell Pounds begin kicking the cell block, slamming his head off the wall, and pulled a toilet of the floor and threw it. According to the complaint, the bar owner said Joseph Pounds tried to stab several people and a patron wrote Pounds pulled out two knives and threatened him with them. Melinda Pounds was reportedly face-to-face with a woman during an argument and the woman pushed Melinda Pounds away from her then Melinda Pounds pushed her. While a fight ensued, Melinda Pounds reportedly punched a different woman in the face. Joseph Pounds is charged with four counts of aggravated assault, five counts of simple assault and criminal mischief. Melinda Pounds is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and seven counts of simple assault. Warrants have been issued for their arrests.

PUBLIC DRUNKENESS:
Martha Rouzzo, 57, of Ellwood City is charged with Public Drunkenness after an incident on April 15th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:12 a.m., police were dispatched to Snowy White Laundromat on Portersville Road to find Rouzzo playing small games of chance machines while under the influence. Police found Rouzzo to be swaying and unable to stand in one place while speaking with officers and Rouzzo related she had used heroin approximately four hours earlier. Police placed Rouzzo under arrest and found her in possession of drug paraphernalia.  Rouzzo was transported to Ellwood City Police Department and later released. She is charged with Public Drunkenness, Possession of Controlled Substance, and Possession of Paraphernalia.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
Lindsey Weller, 26, of Ellwood City is charged with Criminal Mischief after an incident on April 2nd. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 11:19 p.m., police were dispatched to a residence on Center Avenue by a caller who stated someone had smashed out the rear window of a pick up truck. Police spoke with the victim whom related he obtain cellphone video footage from an unnamed neighbor that showed a vehicle stopping next to the victim’s pick up truck and a woman exiting the vehicle, grabbing an item from the bed of the truck, and throwing it at the back window. The woman then gets back into her vehicle and speeds off east bound towards 12th Street. Officers were able to confirm the woman in the footage was Weller. Officers were later contacted by Weller’s ex-boyfriend whom related he received texts from Weller confirming the act and damages.  Estimated damages due to this incident are reported at $3,816.36.

DUI:
Kamron Rudy, 27, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on February 12th. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 2:27 a.m., a pick up truck driven by Rudy blew through the intersection of Line Avenue and Pershing Street against a red light and headed north on Pershing Street. The vehicle made a right turn into a residence driveway and Rudy exited the vehicle and walked towards the responding officer. Rudy told the officer he was drunk and when asked to completed a field sobriety test, failed the test. Rudy was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to ECPD and later, a nearby hospital.