POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

HARASSMENT:
On March 28th at approximately 11:45p.m. police were dispatched to Trusel Road for a report of a domestic dispute in progress. The victim, 28, F, of Portersville advised she had been shoved during the verbal argument with 21, M, of New Castle. Both parties were separated and charges will be filed according toa criminal complaint.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
Christopher Dalessandro, 35, of Ellwood City is charged with criminal mischief after an incident occurring on December 28th at approximately 8:17p.m. Police were notified by the victim and the victims neighbor that a man was vandalizing his property on Van Gorder Mill Road by breaking windows. The victims neighbor advised that she had seen a vehicle pull up to the victims house, and watched someone walk up to the house, and heard glass break. She had then positively identified the suspects vehicle as Dalessandro’s. Once police made contact with Dalessandro, he advised he was upset with the victim because he was evicted and being sued for $10,000.00. He then admitted to returning to the residence after being evicted in a blind rage to vandalize the property, according to a criminal complaint.

DUI:
Richard Grinnen, 41, of Wampum is charged with DUI after a traffic stop occurring on March 28th at approximately 12:23a.m. After police made contact with Grinnen they observed a strong smell of alcohol, and several other signs of impairment that persuaded officers to have Grinnen preform the Standard Field Sobriety Tests, according to a criminal complaint.

DUI:
Wilbert Schwartz, 67, of Wampum is charged with DUI after a traffic stop occurring on March 1st at approximately 3:06a.m. Police made contact with Schwartz and observed several signs of impairment causing them to request a search of his person. Officers found marijuana and suspected methamphetamine, alongside several items of paraphernalia inside the vehicle according to a criminal complaint.

DRUG TRAFFICKING:
Alexis Donnell, 30, of New Castle, has been sentenced in federal court to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on her conviction of violating federal drug trafficking laws as part of a Homeland Security Task Force prosecution, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced this week.

Donnell previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine between August 2023 and August 2024.

According to information presented to the Court, Donnell was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy that was based in Detroit, Michigan, and in New Castle. Donnell participated in the conspiracy by retailing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine to her customers in both Lawrence County and Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Donnell had several prior convictions for crimes involving violence, drugs, and theft.

United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer County Drug Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Donnell.

This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations that have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

HIDTA Operation White Castle:
On 04/09/2026, members of the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office HIDTA Drug Task Force, the PA Office of Attorney General, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Group 66 executed a narcotics search warrant at 750 Castle Street, New Castle, PA. Detectives secured the residence and detained several individuals found in the house. One of the occupants, Ben Tolbert, was found to be in possession of the following:

• • A baggie containing suspected heroin/fentanyl (4.2 g);
• A baggie containing suspected crack cocaine (13.5 g);
• Ruger LCP .380 that had previously been reported stolen; and $40 in U.S. currency

Investigators conducted a methodical search of the residence and located the following narcotics within:

• 22.5 g of suspected heroin/fentanyl;
• 42.2 g of suspected cocaine/crack cocaine
• 14.5 g of suspected methamphetamine
• 21 Suboxone strips
• 107.8 g of various gabapentin pills
• 21.4 g of suspected marijuana
• 24 various THC cartridges

Detectives also searched a gray Nissan sedan parked in front of the residence and located additional controlled substances:

• Baggie containing five oxycodone hydrochloride pills (3.5 g);
• 3.0 g of suspected cocaine; and
• 6 g of suspected marijuana.

Three other individuals, Justin Pannutti, Matthew Jones, and Maranda Bookamer, found within the house were lodged in the Lawrence County Jail on outstanding bench warrants. Mr. Tolbert was also lodged in LCJ on a Pennsylvania State Parole detainer and was charged with persons not to possess firearms, receiving stolen property, and multiple counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.