POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
James Hammond, 28, of Wampum, is charged with Simple Assault and Terroristic Threats after an incident on October 14th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 10:20 p.m., PA State Police responded to an inactive domestic altercation at a residence on Guy Way, Wayne Township to be informed a female had been physically attacked by her boyfriend and that he vacated in a grey car. Police interviewed the victim who related there had been ongoing issues with Hammond that recently culminated to physical violence. In a written statement to police, the victim related the most recent altercation occurred during the night and that Hammond smacked her in the face, pulled her hair, spit on her, and dragged her outside. According to the complaint, the victim added that during the violence that Hammond produced a 9mm pistol and threatened violence on both parties. Police were unable to contact Hammond in person, but did contact him over the phone and he declined to speak with officers. Hammond is charged with Simple Assault, Terroristic Threats, Harassment, and Criminal Mischief.

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Benjamin Stiffler, 41, of Ellwood City, is charged with Simple Assault and Harassment after an incident on October 4th. According to a criminal complaint, police were dispatched to an apartment complex on Fifth Street for a report of a physical domestic and made contact with the female victim who related her boyfriend, Stiffler, was choking her and dragging her across the floor. The victim was found to have visible marks and the appareance of a struggle in the apartment. Stiffler was found to be intoxicated and was placed under arrest and transported to ECPD and later to a nearby hospital for medical attention from previously diagnosed medical problems the complaint relates.

DUI:
Louis Knopp, 52, of Ellwood City is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on September 2nd. According to the criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:15 a.m., police observed a vehicle heading south on North Street without head lights or tail lights activated and conducted a traffic stop after the vehicle stopped on Fourth Street near Spring Avenue. Upon approach and contact with Knopp he was found with a strong odor of alcohol and slurred speech. Knopp admitted he just left the Hazel Manor Bar and smoked marijuana earlier in the day. Police administered a field sobriety test for which Knopp failed. Knopp was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to a nearby hospital for blood draw.

DUI:
Garrett Grimm, 26, of New Castle, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on Ellwood Road on September 9th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:26 a.m., police observed a vehicle on Ellwood Road weaving and touching the center lane resulting in a traffic stop. Upon approach and contact with Grimm he provided an expired insurance card and was found to be under the influence of alcohol, displaying multiple signs of impairment. Police administered a preliminary breath test for which Grimm failed and Grimm was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.

DUI:
Jessica Snider, 58, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after an incident on September 28th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 6:50 a.m., police were called to the area of Massachusetts Drive and Loop Street for a vehicle that was wrecking into cement barriers. A caller related to police the red sedan almost struck her parked vehicle and the car appeared unsure where to go. Police located the vehicle and the driver, Snider, who was found without shoes and who told police she was going to take her grandkids to school. Snider’s speech was slurred and her eyes were bloodshot and admitted to have been drinking. Police administered a field sobriety test for which she failed. Snider was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.

ACCIDENT:
PA State Police investigated a one vehicle crash that occurred on October 13th at approximately 7:42 a.m. on Route 488 just east of Breakneck Bridge Road. According to the police report, a 2011 BMW driven by a 39-year-old female from Mercer, PA was traveling south on Route 488 when the vehicle struck a deer which entered the roadway. Police assisted on the scene and the vehicle towed. No injured were reported as a result of the crash.

CRASH/FLEEING:
A one vehicle accident occurred on October 13th at approximately 5:59 p.m., on Enon Road just west of Main Street, Lawrence County. According to the police report a 2005 Chevy Silverado truck was traveling southwest on Enon Road and went off the road and attempted to make a U-turn. In the process of making the U-turn, the truck struck a utility police, severing a ground wire and the truck continued back towards Main Street attempting to do a donut in the road. The truck went off the road again onto the west side of the road, striking a fence and again traveled on Main Street towards Vine Street. At the intersection of Main St. and Vine St. the reported 22-year-old male driver parked the truck and fled the scene. The truck was located abandoned and driver left unidentified.

HARASSMENT:
Logan Slosser, 18, of New Castle, is charged with Harassment and Terroristic Threats after an incident on September 27th. According to a criminal complaint, police spoke with a female victim who advised that Slosser was harassing her and making threats to harm her. The victim related that Slosser contacted her via Instagram messenger and asked to hang out, but due a prior history with Slosser the victim told him no. According to the complaint Slosser then made threats of violence towards the victim in messaging. In August, Slosser was sentenced on for an arson charge that stemmed from a January 2023 incident where he allegedly told police he intentionally set fire to a residence on Sampson Street, New Castle.