POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

FOUND PROPERTY:
A kayak was found on July 19th on the side of Pleasant Hill Road, near its intersection with N Camp Run Road, Perry Township. If you are missing a kayak please contact the New Castle State Police at 724-598-2211. Please reference incident number PA2023-953413

FOUND PROPERTY:
A bull was found on July 16th near a residence on Old Pittsburgh Road, Wayne Township. According to a report, and at approximately 2:33 p.m., a caller advised that the bull was secured on their property and had been fed and given water. If anyone is missing a bull or has any information as to anyone that might be missing a bull, please contact PA State Police in New Castle at 724-598-2211

THEFT:
On July 13th at approximately 2:05 p.m., PA State Police were dispatched to a theft reported by an 85-year-old male victim’s power of attorney. According to the report, the complainant advised that his father, who resided on US Route 422, Slippery Rock Township had been writing bad checks of large sums of money to unknown people, but had not spoken to his father about the incident. The complainant was advised to speak to his father and figure out if a crime was committed. On July 18th, the complainant and the victim were interviewed in reference to the incident and through investigation it was determined that the victim was made to believe that he had won the Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes, but had to pay the taxes before he could claim the prize money.
At this time, this investigation is ongoing according to the public information release report.

RETAIL THEFT:
Kortney May, 32, of Ellwood City, is charged with Retail Theft after an incident on July 8th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:07 p.m., police were dispatched the Ellwood City Sheetz for a retail theft as a caller stated a white female had stolen items from the store and fled on foot. Police met with store managers who related that May had asked for a cup of ice and walked around the store suspiciously. A manager approached May and asked her if she needed help before May left the store. Police reviewed surveillance footage and identified May and later located May and placed her into custody. May admitted to stealing a Monster Energy Drink, Old Spice Deodorant, and Purell Hand Sanitizer, totaling a value of $15.67.

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING:
Heidi Lance, 44, of Ellwood City, is charged with Criminal Trespassing after an incident on July 12th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 5:34 p.m., police received a call from a male landlord relating that a former tenant was going to break into her former apartment on Wampum Avenue. Police checked the apartment and found no signs of forced entry but approximately 25 minutes after leaving the scene received a call from the current tenant stating that Lance had broken into the apartment. The victim related that Lance pushed an air condition unit out of a kitchen window to try to get into the apartment. Police later checked the kitchen and found the window unit sitting on the floor with minor damage. According to the complaint, the landlord related that Lance wanted into the apartment to get the rest of her belongings, but the landlord could not meet her at the time and Lance became angry and told him several times that she was going to break into the apartment.

USE/POSSESSION:
Timothy Myers, 41, of Ellwood City, is charged with Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after a traffic stop on July 17th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 1:23 a.m., police identified Myers outside of the Ellwood City Sheetz and verified his identify and confirmed an active bench warrant out of Ellwood City PD for narcotics possession. After Myers left Sheetz, officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with Myers. Officers advised Myers the reason for the stop and placed him into custody. Officers were able to locate and seize a clear baggie containing suspected crack cocaine, a broken AA battery, one glass smoking pipe, one small orange and white rubber container containing crack cocaine, and one square of tin foil containing white residue. Myers was transported to ECPD and later Lawrence County Jail for the Bench Warrant.

FORGERY:
Heather Curtis, 37, of Beaver Falls, is charged with Forgery after an incident on July 17th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:19 p.m., Ellwood City Police were called to meet the owner of The Store, on Line Avenue, Ellwood City, and who advised that Curtis cashed two fraudulent Ellwood City Forge Group checks. The store manager advised that he received her photo ID each time and cashed the local checks which appeared to be good. The first check, in the amount of $200, was cashed on 7/7/23 and a second check, in the amount of $400.00 was cashed on 7/10/23. The complaint relates both checks when processed by First Commonwealth Bank were marked altered/fictitious on 7/12/23. Police were later able to verify with Ellwood City Forge that both checks were forged and that Curtis has never been employed by them nor checks issued to her.

source: Lawrence County District Attorney’s Facebook.com Page

HIDTA OPERATION #140 (photo)
On Thursday, July 6, 2023, the Lawrence County District Attorney’s HIDTA Task Force executed a sealed search warrant at 699 Arlington Avenue in the City of New Castle. Once entry was made into the residence, two males identified as Zachary Loughner and Gary Lee Joseph Jr. and a female later identified as Tammy Habib, were located and detained. The target of the investigation, Zachary Glaude, was located in the kitchen where he was detained. After all occupants were secured, a subsequent search of the residence was conducted and the following were seized by District Attorney Detectives: 39.6 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl, 68.5 grams of suspected cocaine, 38.6 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 13.4 grams of suspected marijuana, four digital weigh scales, $1,106.00 in U.S. currency, numerous assorted prescription tablets, and a cellular phone. Mr. Glaude was taken into custody and lodged in the Lawrence County Jail on a parole detainer pending the following charges:
Pennsylvania Title 18: 5111(a)(1) – dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activity.
Pennsylvania Title 35: 13(a)(30) – Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (8 counts).
Pennsylvania Title 35: 13(a)(16) – Possession of a Controlled Substance (8 counts).
Pennsylvania Title 35: 13(a)(32) – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

DUI:
Tyler Abraham, 31, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on May 27th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 11:56 a.m., police conducted a traffic stop on Wampum Road on a vehicle for a window tint violation. Upon approach, police immediately smelled a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle and the operator, Abraham, with glassy and blood shot eyes. Police asked Abraham to exit the vehicle and administered a field sobriety test for which Abraham failed. Police asked and were given permission to search the vehicle where police found two mason
jars containing loose marijuana, two ziplock baggies containing loose marijuana, one black bag containing loose marijuana, a black digital scale, and a black/green smoking pipe. Abraham was transported from the scene and later released.

DUI:
Ronald Davis, 53, of Wampum, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on March 28, 2023. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:23 p.m., police noticed a silver SUV traveling on Lawrence Avenue at a high rate of speed and without lights. Police initiated a traffic stop on Lawrence Avenue near Eleventh Street and made contact with the driver, Davis, who was found extremely nervous, flush, eyes glazed over and pupils were pinpoint dilated. The passenger of the vehicle asked if she could step out and talk to officers and the passenger explained she’s been having concerns with Davis using and wanted to get him help. The complaint related that as police asked Davis to exit the vehicle, he consented and then immediately advised he used a white substance that he found in his vehicle and that he did not want the passenger to know. Police administered a field sobriety test for which Davis failed. Davis was placed into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Davis was transported to ECPD and later a nearby hospital for a blood draw.

UNAUTHORIZED USE OF MOTOR VEHICLE:
Alejandro Lopez, 20, is charged with Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle and Driving Without License after an incident on July 17th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 7:30 p.m., police received a report of an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle by a victim who claimed that her vehicle was driven without her permission and was involved in a hit/run DUI accident. The victim
related she owned the un-insured vehicle which was given to her by her brother on 7/15 only for the victim and his girlfriend to use while repairs were made. The complaint related that the victim was contacted by South Strabane PD on 7/17 informing her that her vehicle was involved in a crash operated by Lopez whom the victim knew as a family friend who knows he did not have permission to operate a vehicle. The victim’s brother was contacted and who related that Lopez lives close to where the vehicle was stored and Lopez would have been able to gain access to it and operate it despite not possessing a driver’s license. According to the complaint, contact was later made with South Strabane PD who related tha Lopez was arrested for DUI and Hit/Run for a collision that occurred in Washington, PA on 7/17. After the accident, it was determined that Lopez does not possess a valid driver’s license. It is respectfully recommended that Lopez is brought before the court to answer the aforementioned charges.