POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES:
Aaron Perri, 31, of Ellwood City, is charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of operating a vehicle without an official certificate of inspection after a traffic stop on October 31st. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:41 a.m., Ellwood City police pulled over a vehicle with an expired state inspection sticker and found the passenger, Ryan Carr, had a warrant for his arrest. The driver was later identified as Perri. Officers noticed a hypodermic needle in the vehicle and later saw a container containing suspected methamphetamine the complaint relates. The following day, a full search warrant was granted and police reportedly found an Airsoft pistol, shotgun and AK-47-style rifle, a black ski mask, baking soda in a baggie, baggies containing an unknown white powder and tablets and three packets of body warmers.

CHILD PORNOGRAPHY: 
Thomas Hyatt Baney, 20, of Wampum, is facing additional charges relating to Child Pornography after police obtained a cell phone belonging to Hyatt Baney and served a search warrant of the phone on October 10th. He was charged last month and later arrested in New York City and has since been extradited and is in the Lawrence County jail. According to a recent criminal complaint, a search of the cell phone located 253 videos and 53 photos, most of which were child pornography. The images included sexual acts with infants, toddlers and pre-pubescent children and a dog. Some of the photos also exhibited bondage, according to the report. Five videos were located that specifically pertain to the sexual assault of a 2-year-old boy that took place between the time of May and July 2023. The police through their investigation determined the photos and videos had been taken at Hyatt Baney’s Wampum home the complaint relates. The complaint concludes that through investigation it is determined the sexual assaults and production of child pornography occurred at the residence in Wampum, PA and the uploading and trading of child pornography occurred at a residence in New Brighton, PA. Hyatt Baney was arraigned Wednesday morning by District Judge Jerry G. Cartwright, who committed him to jail on a $500,000 bond.

RECKLESS DRIVING:
Chad Gulu, 46, of Beaver Falls, is charged with Reckless Driving after an incident in July. According to a criminal complaint, police were dispatched to Lawrence Avenue near 12th Street on July 17th at approximately 2:59 p.m. for a hit and run incident. The report two car accident lead to two parties exiting vehicles to talk and review the accident. A driver related that Gulu stated he didnt see any damage and jumped back into his card and left at a high rate of speed heading towards Koppel. Officers attempted to locate the vehicle as described by the other driver and later obtained video that showed a license plate that was traced to a residence in Beaver Falls. One day later Gulu contacted police and related the accident left no damages to either vehicle, but police had video of his vehicle leaving the scene of the accident at a high rate of speed. Days later police were still not able to make further contact with Gulu and collect insurance information. As of October 26th by the approval of the victim, an estimate for $669.66 for damages was sent to Gulu for payment with no further response from Gulu.

NON AUTHORIZED ACCESS DEVICE:
Joseph Sanchez, 30, of Ellwood City, is charged with Non Authorized Access Device after an incident in July. According to a criminal complaint, police responded to a residence on Portersville Road, Perry Township, to find a victim who related her bank account was in the negative and with bank documents showing a total of $2,450 was transferred from the victim’s account to CashApp Camden Sanchez – the victim’s neighbor. The victim relates she did not authorize Sanchez to access her account. A search warrant was obtained and records from CashApp shows that beginning on May 31, 2023 through July 1, 2023 the defendant’s CashApp was transferring funds in the amount of $1,875.00 from the victim’s debit card into his CashApp Account.

DUI:
Austin Kremer, 18, of Koppel, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on September 29th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:25 p.m., police had started an active checkpoint on Lawrence Avenue, Wayne Township and noticed a white Buick with loud exhaust approaching only to turn off the road prior to the checkpoint. Within minutes the vehicle exits traveling north on Lawrence Avenue and police pursued and later conducted a traffic stop. Contact was made with the operator, Kremer, who was found with an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle and when questioned, advised he didnt have a medical marijuana card. Police conducted a field sobriety test for which Kremer failed and he was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw.