POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY:
Joseph Frelin, 24, of Ellwood City, is charged with receiving stolen property after an incident occurring on July 12th. Police were dispatched to contact Shenango Township Police Officer in regards to an arrest warrant for Frelin. Police were advised that Frelin had taken a gun and several power tools from his uncle. He was eventually found and arrested at Uni-Mart by officers according to a criminal complaint.

POESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE:
Daniel Dourlain, 43, of Ellwood City is charged with possession with the intent to distribute after an incident occurring on July 14th at approximately 1:28 p.m. Police observed Dourlain driving knowing he did not have a drivers license and activated their lights to initiate a traffic stop. Dourlain exited his vehicle and police were able to detain him without incident. Upon searching Dourlain, police found cocaine and crack on his person according to a criminal complaint.

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Steven Ramsey, 41, of Ellwood City is charged with Simple Assault after an incident occurring on July 15th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 11:13 a.m., police were dispatched to Portersville Road in report of a domestic dispute. The victim was located and found to have several injuries caused by Ramsey and she had advised police he fled the residence in her vehicle the complaint relates. Police were informed from the victim that Ramsey had started the argument over the victims phone, and that he struck her face, head and body with a closed fist. She alleged that he had also had a knife as well as a cross bow he had threatened her with before fleeing the scene. Ramsey was later located near Dutch Ridge Rd where he pulled over and fled on foot according to the complaint. Ramsey is charged with Simple Assault, Strangulation, Harrassment, and Evading Arrest.

SIMPLE ASSAULT:
Jason Strohecker, 52, of Ellwood City is charged with Simple Assault after an incident occurring on July 16th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:20 p.m., police were dispatched to a residence on Division Ave on a report of a domestic dispute. The caller stated that her 22-year-old son and her boyfriend, Strokhecker, had gotten into an altercation. After making contact with the son, he had advised that Strohecker has thrown a ceramic bowl at his face causing an injury above his left eye. Police also spoke with Strohecker who advised that the callers son was disrespectful to his mother, and he had enough. Both Strohecker and the victim have pressed charged against the other according to the complaint.

DUI:
Collin Conners, 33, of Ellwood City is charged with DUI after an accident occurring on June 28th. Police were dispatched to the 900 Block of Lawrence Avenue on a report of a crash. According to a criminal complaint, and after police investigation, both a silver Toyota and Honda CRV driven by Connors hit head-on in a collision causing injuries to one of the parties. Conners was observed to be nodding off and barely cognizant to the officers questions and was subjected to a series of Standard Field Sobriety Tests which he failed. Connors was placed under arrest for DUI and later refused to submit a blood draw for chemical testing according to the complaint.

DRUG TRAFFICKING:
Akeem Evans, 30, of New Castle, pleaded guilty in federal court on July 15, 2026 before Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, a quantity of fentanyl on March 13, 2024, and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base on September 12, 2024.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for November 13, 2026. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both on each of the two counts. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, New Castle Police Department, and Lawrence County Drug Task Force conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Evans.