POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

PUBLIC REPRIMAND:
An Ellwood City nail salon was fined and given a public reprimand by the Pennsylvania Department of State for what it called grossly incompetent actions. Nails Spa, located in the Northern Star shopping plaza on Route 288 in Franklin Township, was given a $6,600 civil penalty and ordered to stop possessing methyl methacrylate (MMA) and metal credo tools. MMA is a resin commonly used in artificial nail products, dentistry and the production of plastics. Credo tools are used to remove callused skin. The violations were cited in the agency’s latest disciplinary actions. An investigation also said the salon operated in a “grossly incompetent and unethical manner” by offering prohibited services, namely waxing, without a license. The agency said the salon employed some unlicensed workers and didn’t keep clean towels in a closed container.

THEFT:
Ramiero Cruz-Mendoza, 21, of Ellwood City, is charged with Theft after an accident occurring on November 23rd. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 11:23pm, police were dispatched to the scene of an accident and came into contact with the operator of one vehicle who stated that Cruz-Mendoza fled the scene and did not know where he went or what he looked like. After officers ran the plates of Cruz-Mendoza’s vehicle they found the vehicles owner. Officers contacted the owner who then realized his truck was stolen the report relates. The owner was shown the vehicle, as well as a video taken on Cruz-Mendoza’s phone that he had left on the passengers seat. The vehicle owner further advised that the key that was in the vehicle had been in the inside doorway to his house meaning that Cruz-Mendoza had to have opened the door to his house, made entry, and stole the keys to the truck. After leaving the scene, Police found several other vehicles had been rummaged through the report relates. Police stopped at Uni-Mart and surrounding neighborhoods to collect video evidence of Cruz-Mendoza. Video evidence shows Cruz-Mendoza attempting to rummage through other vehicles, and the video on his phone accurately stating that he stole the vehicle according to a the complaint.

THEFT:
Destiny Stemmerich, 29, of Ellwood City, is charged with Receiving Stolen Property after a car accident occurring on November 29th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 7:08pm, officers were dispatched to the area of Fifth Street at Spring Avenue for reports of a motor vehicle accident. There were no injuries, but police were notified that the offender fled the scene. A witness on scene provided the plate number, and vehicle from the offender. The witness also provided dash cam footage to Police to view. After some investigation, police located Stemmerich and the vehicle she drove with a stolen plate. When police attempted to contact Stemmerich, she evaded calls and texts and pretended to be her friend, eventually calling back herself and stated she planned on turning herself in for her Butler warrant according to a the complaint.

ENDANGERMENT:
Sara Gasper, 39, of Ellwood City, is charged with Endangerment and Corruption of Minors after an incident involving juveniles getting into a physical dispute on December 3rd. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 2:45pm, police were informed of this dispute on December 4th after an Ellwood City School Police Officer reported it and provided video evidence of the dispute. The video shows a large group of juveniles walking to watch while the two juveniles square off to fight. As the video continues, Police are able to identify Gasper. Gasper, a mother to one of the juveniles involved in the fight, made no effort to stop the physical fight, but encouraged it the report relates. Police were also told by the victims father that his juvenile daughter stated that Gasper transported her kids to the predetermined scene of the dispute knowing her daughter had intentions to fight the other juvenile involved according to the complaint.

ASSAULT:
Lawrence Hughes, 31, of Farrell, is charged with Simple Assault, Criminal Mischief and Harrassment after an incident occurring on November 26th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:07am, police responded to a panic alarm set off by Hughes breaking and entering into his ex-girlfriend’s home on Hazel Avenue. The female victim related that Hughes put his hands on her and broke stuff inside the residence.  Hughes then fled the scene. The complaint also relates that the victim stated that Hughes unplugged cameras inside the residence prior to the incident.  After assessing the victim and investigating, police located Hughes at Sheetz around 2:00 a.m. and placed him in custody and transported to ECPD.

DUI:
James Kosto, 36, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on January 9th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 1:38am, police stopped Kosto for a broken center break light, and left registration light. When Police contacted Kosto they observed a strong smell of marijuana as well as a lit joint in the center consol. Kosto was asked for his license to which he stated it wasn’t on him. He provided his registration and insurance which were both valid. Police then apprehended Kosto and taken to ECPD according to the complaint.

DUI:
George Weller, 34, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after an incident occurring on April 18th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:15pm, police conducted a traffic stop on Weller due to the fact that he was driving recklessly on and near the area of Fountain Avenue. When police contacted Weller, there was a strong odor emitting from the vehicle and Weller himself. Police instructed Weller to conduct a Standard Field Sobriety Test for which he failed. He was transported to ECPD and later released to his father according to a the complaint.

DUI:
Jordan Hasson, 32, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after an incident occurring on September 21. According to a criminal complaint, Hasson was driving erratically in the Lincoln HS parking lot nearly hitting a group of juveniles. He pulled away and drove off, at which time police saw him and conducted a traffic stop. Police observed that Hasson was very intoxicated and conducted a Standard Field Sobriety Test for which Hasson failed and was taken to ECPD.

DUI:
Brian Wise, 39, of Butler, is charged with DUI after a car accident on October 11th. According to a criminal complaint, police arrived to the scene of an accident at the intersection of Fountain Avenue and Pittsburgh Circle and spoke to the operator of the vehicle who was identified as Wise. Officers observed Wise to appear intoxicated and asked him to conduct a Standard Field Sobriety Test. Wise could not conduct the tests due to his level of intoxication. Wise was arrested and taken to ECPD according to a the complaint.

DUI:
Adrian Thompson, 22, of New Brighton, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on August 15th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 1:00 a.m., police conducted a traffic stop for erratic driving on Pershing Street, made contact with the operator and the passenger of the vehicle and observed a strong odor of marijuana after which Thompson was asked to conduct a Standard Field Sobriety Test for which he failed. Thompson was arrested and taken to ECPD according to the complaint.

DUI:
Brandon DeJohn, 23, of New Castle, is charged with DUI after an incident occurring on January 22nd. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 3:53am, police located DeJohn at the scene of a crash on Portersville Road and observed him to be heavily intoxicated. Police asked him to conduct a Standard Field Sobriety test for which DeJohn failed. DeJohn was placed under arrest and taken to ECPD according to the complaint.

DUI:
Michael Graham, 34, of Penn Hills, is charged with DUI and Reckless Driving after an accident occurring on November 20th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 3:15pm., Graham fled from the scene of a hit and run accident in a construction zone on Portersville Road and was later located by police who found Graham to be heavily intoxicated with an empty bottle of tequila in the driver side door. Graham refused any form of Standard Field Sobriety Tests and was transferred to a nearby hospital for bloodwork according to the complaint.