POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

HARASSMENT:
Tarah Pearlstein, 42, of New Castle, is charged with Harassment after an incident occurring on April 18th. According to a criminal complaint, police responded to a call regarding harassment occurring two days before the file report. The victim states that during a party she was attending at Pearlstein’s residence on Old Pittsburgh Road an argument broke out which began to escalate. She and a friend attempted to leave, but could not find her purse and began to ask around if anyone had seen it, which escalated the argument further causing Pearlstein’s friend to involve the victim and the victims friend in the argument. The victim states that Pearlstein had pushed her down the front porch steps which knocked her unconscious. Officers then interviewed Pearlstein and her friend who both stated that the victim had never been pushed, but had rather fallen into a potted plant while heavily intoxicated, which was later debunked by witnesses, a text message thread, and Ring camera footage according to the complaint.

DUI:
Jennifer Fidell, 44, of New Galilee, is charged with DUI after a car crash occurring on April 11th at approximately 1:06 p.m. Police were dispatched to Line Avenue for a crash that was blocking traffic. When officers arrived Fidell was being escorted out of the vehicle by neighbors. Police observed Fidell to be heavily intoxicated and were informed she had struck a vehicle on Todd Avenue and that a Medavac employee legally parked vehicle on Bridge Street before she crashed on Line Avenue according to a criminal complaint.

CRIMINAL TRESSPASS:
Robert Chalfant, 24, of Waynesburg, Ohio, John Dunn, 22, of New Franklin, Ohio, and Niko Cox, 19, of Trafford, Pennsylvania are each charged with multiple counts after trespassing at the Ellwood City Hospital on April 18th. According to a criminal complaint, police were notified that four individuals had broken into the hospital in an attempt to steal copper piping. When officers arrived, the individuals fled towards Mount Vernon Drive eventually crossing a creek to Smiley Street. Once apprehended, three of the defendants were interviewed. Chalfant advised he had been in the hospital to explore the report relates. He also advised he was in the basement of the hospital during a prior incident in which a majority of the copper had been stolen. Kaley Lee, who was with the four men, advised that she had also been at the hospital for both instances and had advised Dunn and Chalfant were stealing copper during both occasions. Dunn refused to give a statement. The three defendants were detained and transferred to Lawrence County Jail from the Magistrate’s office. Cox, who had evaded police, later turned himself in and advised that the four individuals saw a picture of the hospital online and never intended to steal anything. He advised they wanted to explore the building and take photos which he referred to as “urbexing,” according to the complaint.

CHILD NEGLECT:
William James Adams, 26, and Grace Adams, 26, of Koppel, are each charged with endangering the welfare of a child after it is reported they couple had failed to provide adequate nourishment for their 14-month-old child. According to reports, police received a child welfare report from Lawrence County Children and Youth Services concerning neglect and malnutrition of a toddler and police also received photos from the foster mother, showing the baby’s thinness leading to the foster mother to take official custody of the girl in February. The 14-month-old child was one of four foster children to the Adamses.  According to reports, and on February 3rd  the foster mother took the child to Ellwood City Health Center noting the she was 14 months old then and weighed 14 pounds. Children and Youth Services subsequently decided the foster mother would take over her custody the reports relate. William and Grace Adams each are charged with felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Warrants have been issued for their arrests.