POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Michael Miller, 74, of Ellwood City and Joel Thomas, 48, of Wampum are each charged with Simple Assault after an incident occurring on October 4th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 4:00 p.m., officers responded to a report of a physical domestic between Miller and his son, Thomas. Police spoke to both parties who relayed that Miller had arrived at the residence on Harriet St in Wampum to confront Thomas about his argument and physical conflict with Thomas’ wife. Both parties had agreed to fight outside, resulting in minor injuries to both parties before the fight was broken up by a friend of Miller’s and he left the scene according to the complaint.

CRIMINAL MISCHEIF:
Multiple known juvenile males are charged with criminal mischief, or theft, after several instances taken place over the months of September, October, and November in the areas of New Galilee Borough, Darlington Borough and Darlington Township, Beaver County. Multiple victims have reported their vehicles damaged according to a criminal complaint.

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM:
Kenneth Hardret, 36, of New Castle is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm after a traffic stop occurring on February 6th at approximately 3:20p.m. Police made contact with Hardret, who seemed agitated and nervous while speaking with officers. Police had observed an odor of marijuana and had asked Hardret to exit the vehicle to search him, finding nothing. Police had asked to search the vehicle, which Hardret had refused, causing officers to advise they would have to tow the vehicle. Officers unleashed K9 Benny to search the outside of the vehicle, to which K9 Benny alerted. Hardret asked for his hat, and jacket. Police searched the jacket before handing to Hardret and found a firearm and magazine which Hardret had previously denied having, according to a criminal complaint.

BURGLARY:
John Huddy, 51, of Ellwood City, is charged with Burglary after a reported burglary in progress on December 3rd at approximately 4:08p.m. on Hickory Way in Ellwood City. Upon arrival, police observed Huddy breaking glass inside of the garage of the residence. Officers promptly detained Huddy, securing him in the patrol car and taking him to the Ellwood City Police Department for further action according to a criminal complaint.

DUI:
Waylon Juart, 43, of Portersville is charged with DUI after a traffic stop occurring at approximately 8:48 p.m. on Perry Highway, Slippery Rock Township after patrol observed a black sedan traveling at a reported 97 MPH rate of speed on US Route 422. Officers made contact with Juart and had observed a strong odor of alcohol. Police had Juart preform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which he failed according to a criminal complaint.

DUI:
Billie Jo Wyant, 57, of New Castle, is charge with DUI after a report of a female unconscious in a vehicle on October 5th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 9:40 a.m., police made contact with Wyant who was found passed out in a vehicle stopped on Park Drive, Wampum Borough.  Police observed several signs of impairment and had asked if they could search the vehicle and found several items of paraphernalia and narcotics including crack cocaine in the center console and a marijuana roach in plain sight according to a the complaint. Wyant was arrested for drug possession and DUI and transported to a nearby hospital for a blood draw and later released to a relative.

DUI:
Craig Alberts, 56, of Ellwood City, is charged with DUI after a traffic stop on Aetna Drive on November 2nd. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:40 a.m., officers made contact with Alberts after he was observed to be driving erratically and observed several signs of impairments when speaking to Alberts. Police conducted a Standard Field Sobriety Tests for which Alberts failed according to the complaint.

THEFT OF SERVICES:
Nicholas T. Grimes, 31, of Beaver Falls, has been sentenced in federal court to 3 years’ probation plus 7 days intermittent confinement on his conviction of theft of government property, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced this week. According to information presented to the Court, following the death of a Title II Social Security benefits recipient, Grimes began stealing that person’s Social Security retirement benefits, beginning as early as 2014. Grimes stole benefits totaling approximately $216,779 by negotiating the benefits from the deceased’s account through ATM transactions. Grimes has also been ordered to pay the full restitution of $216,779 to the Social Security Administration.