POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Richard Newman, 56, of Ellwood City, is charged with Simple Assault after an incident occurring on April 16th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 7:21 p.m., police were dispatched to Laurel Avenue, Wayne Township for reports of a domestic dispute. Officers spoke to Newman’s wife who reported that she and Newman got into verbal argument that turned physical. She stated that Newman pushed her to the ground, and when she rose up, he pushed her head into a window leading to a large raised bump on her forehead according to a the complaint.

Video surveillance showing Rible inside New Castle High School. source: wfmj.com

BURGLARY:
Jacob Rible, 21, of Ellwood City, is charged with Burglary after an incident on March 18th. According to a criminal complaint, Rible and a minor accomplice entered Ellwood City Lincoln High School around 3:30 a.m. and a High School Principal later informed police that a few teachers were missing money from their desks, which summed to a total of $1,180.00. Officers watched back the security footage and identified Rible and a current cyber student. On March 21st, Rible contacted the Lincoln High School onsite officer to make payment arrangements for restitution, according to the complaint.

Rible is currently in the Lawrence County Jail and is set to be arraigned on felony charges of burglary and criminal trespassing, as well as corruption of minors after facing additional charges for allegedly breaking into a New Castle High School this past weekend.

ASSAULT:
Joseph Robert Leighty, 40, is charged with Assault and is now in Lawrence County Jail on a $25,000 bond as a result of an incident that occurred on Saturday, April 19th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:15 a.m., a victim was standing outside of a closed business, talking to his wife at Sixth Street and Crescent Avenue.

Ellwood City firefighters who were sitting outside the fire department nearby and witnessed Leighty, who was traveling on his motorcycle when he saw the couple talking, according to a criminal complaint. Leighty reportedly turned left onto Crescent Avenue, circled the block, then parked his bike on the sidewalk near the two and became visibly agitated and shouted while approaching the couple.

The victim told police Leighty is in a relationship with his wife and a fight started between them when Leighty saw them talking. He reportedly got a ball-peen hammer and hit the victim multiple times in the arms, shoulders and head, causing him injuries the report relates. The reported assault evolved into a physical fight that continued between them until the police arrived and broke it up. The police searched both men and confiscated a set of metal knuckles and a single metal knuckle in Leighty’s pockets the complaint relates

Leighty is charged with aggravated assault using a deadly weapon, simple assault, harassment, making repairs, selling or possessing an offensive weapon and disorderly conduct.

DUI:
Michael White, 31, of Edinburg is charged with DUI after a crash on New Galilee Rd reported on December 9th at approximately 11:13p.m. Officers observed White to be highly intoxicated and smelled of alcohol while being treated by EMS, they also observed White’s vehicle to be totaled, and had several open containers of alcohol inside, according to a criminal complaint.

DUI:
Barry Williams, 51, of Ellwood City is charged with DUI after a crash near Portersville Rd on March 22nd at approximately 2:39a.m. Police made contact with Williams who was heavily intoxicated and stated he was on his way home before he wrecked. Williams was evaluated by EMS and refused transport to a nearby hospital according to a criminal complaint.

CHILD EXPLOITATION CHARGES:
Shayne A. Clapper, 31, of Ellwood City, has been sentenced to 21 Years in Prison For Coercing Minor to Produce & Send Child Sexual Abuse Material, [READ MORE]