POLICE REPORTS: Several Traffic Stops Lead To Various Violations; Reckless Driving; Assault

According to a criminal complaint, on September 16 at approximately 9:00 am, in a routine patrol, Ellwood City policeman observed old Jason Santellan, 40, of Ellwood City, walking east on Crescent Avenue near Cherry Way. After confirming an active bench warrant for Mr. Santellan, police made contact with Santellan. Police asked Santellan if he had anything on him at which time Santellan provided police with a black box that he stated contained a ‘dab.’ Police took Santellan into custody on the warrant. A search later found one needle in Santellan’s back pocket. The suspect was arrested and charged with use/possession of drug paraphernalia and intent to use a controlled substance.

According to a criminal complaint, on Monday, September 2, at approximately 5:10 pm, a state patrolman while operating radar on Portersville Road (Route 488) initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that was traveling at 51 miles per hour in a 25 mile per house speed zone. When approached at the traffic stop, the driver, Mason Cook, 18, of Butler, was not wearing a seatbelt and the patrolman detected the odor of marijuana emanating about the vehicle. The officer instructed Cook to provide whatever marijuana was inside the vehicle with Cook eventually furnishing a Dutch Berry Fusion Cigarillo packaged comprised of a rolled cigarette containing suspected marijuana and a silver vaping device containing suspected THC liquid. Cook confirmed the marijuana was his. Cook is charged with speeding, possession of a controlled substance.

According to a criminal complaint, on September 15, at approximately 12:15 am, a Pennsylvania State Police officer observed a suspected vehicle traveling west on US Route 422 failing to maintain a single lane of travel. After the patrolman activated overhead lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle, operated by Stepfan Stuble, 44, of New Castle, was slow to respond and move over to berm of the roadway. Upon the initial approach, the suspected was delayed in rolling down the window. Once the operator did roll down the window, the officer did observe a strong odor of alcoholic beverage permeating from the vehicle. Stuble failed a field sobriety test was placed under arrest for the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance and was transported to UPMC Jameson Hospital for a chemical test of blood. Results later showed a blood alcohol content of .160%.

According to a criminal complaint, on August 28, at approximately 5:27 pm, a Pennsylvania State Police officer, while on routine patrol, observed a black Jeep Grand Cherokee operating east on State Route 488 with a burnt-out rear passenger side tail light. The officer initiated a traffic stop on Pleasant Hill Road, in Perry Township, when the officer made the first contact with driver Jerry Bodish, 40, of Harmony. The police officer identified a felony warrant out of Butler County for Bodish for which Bodish was placed in custody. While transporting Bodish in patrol, the officer observed an odor of marijuana coming from inside the patrol vehicle and later conducted a search of the patrol vehicle. While searching the back-seat area of the patrol vehicle, a clear plastic bag containing suspected marijuana as well as a pink and blue colored plastic smoking device was discovered in the rear seat. A review of surveillance footage showed Bodish removing the items and concealing them behind him in the patrol vehicle. Bodish was charged with possession of a controlled substance and operating a vehicle without inspection and failed lighting requirements.

According to a criminal complaint, on August 21, at approximately 7:33 pm, a PA State Police officer responded to a report of a one-vehicle crash into an embankment on Route 422 eastbound, in Slippery Rock Township. Upon the officer arrival, a maroon-colored Ford Mustang was found resting on a shoulder of the highway disabled from damage to the entire front end. The officer was informed by first responders the operator of the vehicle had left the scene, walking down Old Butler Road. The officer later located the individual, Ronald Henderson, 52, of Butler. Upon making contact with Henderson, he informed the officer he just left the New Castle Harley Davidson Dealership when four deer ran out in front of him and he swerved to miss them. The officer could detect a moderate odor of alcohol emanating from Henderson and his eyes appeared watery. When asked, Henderson related that he had one drink at the American Legion in Lyndora, PA approximately one hour before the crash. Henderson was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and transported to UPMC Jameson for a legal blood draw. Later, after interviewing a witness who was outside the dealership and observed the crash, the witness related that Henderson revved his engine prior to exiting the parking lot of the store. The witness also related that Henderson accelerated, burning tire, heading over the yellow line and hitting the embankment of the roadway. The witness stated that he then watched Henderson exit the vehicle and throw a red cup into the weeds near the area of the crash. Henderson is charged with driving under the influence, careless driving, reckless driving, and abandonment of a vehicle.

According to a criminal complaint, on September 7, at approximately 6:20 pm, Ellwood City Police were dispatched to 209 State Avenue for a domestic dispute between a father and stepson. Arriving police officers were met by a 77-year-old victim who stated his stepson had assaulted him. The victim stated that he was forcibly headbutted and hit on the arms several times. Police told the defendant, 37-year-old, Stephen Beyers, that he was under arrest to which Beyers began to yell and swear at the officer. When placed into a patrol car to be transported to police station,
Beyers began to bang his head numerous times off the plexiglass partition in the patrol unit and later began to struggle when the officer attempted to remove him from the vehicle to be placed in a cell. Beyers was highly intoxicated and had been smoking marijuana prior to his arrest and continued to yell at officers while in his cell. Beyers is charged with simple assault and harassment.