POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
Ryan Lambright, 21, of Ellwood City is charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after an incident occurring on January 4th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 7:23 a.m., police were dispatched to Shop ‘N Save on Pittsburgh Circle after a report of a large 2×4 being thrown through the window. The reporting party advised that she believed it to be her ex-boyfriend, Lambright. She explained that Lambright had been harassing her for the last three days about her having a new boyfriend Lambright had issues with. When police arrived but were unable to locate the male and were advised he left running on foot toward the Ewing Park Bridge. Police finally made contact with Lambright after he came forth to ECPD to speak with officers and he completed a statement according to a criminal complaint. The estimated cost of window repair, clean up, and temporary repair exceeds $5,000 according to the complaint.

ANIMAL CRUELTY:
Frank Poynter, 59, of New Galilee, is charged with animal cruelty after a wellness check occurring on January 4th at approximately 12:00p.m. According to a criminal complaint, police were dispatched to Poynter’s residence in Fredrick’s Mobile Home Park in New Beaver Borough and made contact with Poynter. Officers explained their visit to his home and Poynter allowed them to enter where police smelled urine and observed urine and feces all over the floors of the residence. Officers advised that the dogs in the home were living in deplorable conditions, and had asked Poynter if he would be willing to surrender any of the dogs present in the home. Poynter refused and Police returned with a search warrant; seizing fourteen dogs from the residence. The dogs suffered from matted fur, fur loss, and red, irritated skin according to the complaint.

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Michael Newton, 45, of Ellwood City is charged with multiple counts after an incident on December 26th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:23 p.m., police made contact with acaller who stated that her neighbors on Franklin Avenue had been arguing. The caller advised that after a while Newton left the residence to sit inside of a vehicle. When police attempted to make contact, Newton sped off. Officers continued their investigation inside of the residence with the victim and her 8-year-old son. When Newton had finally returned to the residence police had detained him and observed obvious signs of impairment. Officers spoke to the victim who advise Newton had became physical with her causing an injury to her eye. Newton was placed under arrest for harassment, simple assault, and DUI according to the complaint.

POSSESSION:
Amanda Crowl, 41, of Ellwood City is charged with possession with intent to manufacture or deliver after an incident occurring on November 28th at approximately 6:05 p.m. Officers conducted a traffic stop on Moravia Street, New Castle, and made contact with Crowl who was observed to be under the influence. Police searched the vehicle and found a substantial amount of narcotics meant to be delivered, according to a criminal complaint.

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Trent Sirak, 23, of Ellwood City is charged with simple assault after an altercation at the Double Dealin’ Bar on November 10th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 6:47 p.m., police were dispatched to the bar and made contact with the victim found with a bloody nose and swelling around his eye. The victim advised that he and Sirak had argued and that Sirak had punched him in the nose and then the face before wrestling him to the ground according to the complaint.

DUI:
Joshua McQuiston, 40, of Ellwood City is charged with DUI after a crash occurring on December 5th at approximately 4:09 p.m. Police arrived on scene at Wurtemburg Rd, Wayne Township and spoke to McQuiston who refused transportation via ambulance to a nearby hospital. Officers observed clear signs of impairment, and asked him to preform a Standard Field Sobriety Test, which McQuiston refused. McQuiston was read the Implied consent and O’Connell Warnings to which he understood and was released from the scene per rule 519, according to a criminal complaint.

DUI:
Ryan Murphy, 45, is charged with DUI after a crash on Wurtembug Rd on January 9th at approximately 11:33 p.m. Police made contact with the driver and identified him to be Murphy. Officers observed Murphy to be under the influence and had him preform Standard Field Sobriety Tests, which he failed according to a criminal complaint.

DUI:
Terrence Vrabel, 49, of New Castle, is charged with DUI after an incident occurring on December 13th at approximately 2:07 a.m. Officers made contact with Vrabel on Wampum New Galilee Road near Darlington Road who was found asleep and had his vehicle on and in park in the middle of the road. Police questioned Vrabel if he had taken any substances, which he denied, but advised he had been on Methadone for a long time. Officers conducted Standard Field Sobriety Tests, which Vrabel failed, according to the complaint.

HIDTA Operation “Check Out Time”
On January 13, 2026, members of the Lawrence County District Attorney’s HIDTA Group executed a search warrant at Room #220 of the Super 8 Hotel, located at 1699 New Butler Road, New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Shenango Township). The target of the investigation was Keith Jackson, who was present inside the hotel room at the time the warrant was executed. The Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) was utilized to make entry into the room. A search of the room resulted in the seizure of the following items:

• One plastic bag containing 55.2 gross grams of suspected fentanyl
• One plastic bag containing 12.5 gross grams of suspected crack cocaine
• One plastic bag containing 5.0 gross grams of suspected cocaine
• One plastic bag containing 0.5 gross grams of suspected fentanyl
• Six Suboxone strips
• One plastic bag containing numerous Vyvanse capsules (a Schedule II controlled substance)
• One digital weigh scale
• Two cellular phones

Following the search, Jackson was taken into custody and transported to the Lawrence County Jail, where he was lodged on a Pennsylvania State Parole detainer. At the time of his arrest, Jackson was in possession of $2,979.00 in U.S. currency. Jackson is scheduled to be arraigned on drug trafficking charges on January 14, 2026.

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION:
Jayvon Turner, 23, of Beaver Falls, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced. According to the Indictment, on or about August 16, 2025, Turner had a firearm and ammunition in his possession after previously having been convicted of a felony on a state robbery charge. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.

DRUG TRAFFICKING:
Edward Dietrich, 60, of New Castle, has been sentenced in federal court on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced. Dietrich was sentenced by United States District Judge Robert J. Colville to time served of six days in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Prior to sentencing, Judge Colville was informed that the conspiracy in which Dietrich participated was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of controlled substances in New Castle as well as in Detroit, Michigan, and that Dietrich suffers from multiple serious medical and physical conditions. According to information presented to the Court, Dietrich primarily participated in the conspiracy by allowing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine to be stored inside and distributed from his New Castle residence for months between August 2023 and August 2024, with the defendant having received controlled substances as compensation for the use of his residence for that purpose.