POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

FORMER ELLWOOD CITY MAN CHARGED WITH WITNESS RETALIATION:
A former Ellwood City man who is serving a federal prison sentence has been indicted by a federal grand jury for witness retaliation, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced Friday. The one-count Indictment, which was returned on October 26, 2021, and unsealed today, named Derick Davare, age 35, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about May 15, 2019, Davare engaged in conduct that caused and threatened to cause bodily injury to another person with the intent to retaliate against that person for giving information to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission and possible commission of a federal offense. Davare, who is serving a 150-month federal prison sentence, remains detained pending trial. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentences imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

TWO-VEHICLE ACCIDENT:
On January 25 at approximately 10:32 a.m., PA State Police responded to a two-vehicle collision on Wampum Road (Route 288). The accident occurred just before the intersection with Jockey Moore Road, Wayne Township, Lawrence County. According to the investigation, a dump truck was traveling east when it slowed to a stop to make a left hand turn and was struck from behind by a 1997 Ford Ranger driven by Jesse Altman, 35, of Wampum. The Ranger was disabled and required to be towed from the scene with its operator sustaining minor/moderate injury and was transported to a nearby hospital. Altman is charged with driving with an obstructed front windshield, following too closely, and failure to wear a seatbelt. The driver of the dump truck, Nicholas Kcehowski, 33, of Baden, is charged with failure to furnish a current/valid registration card and failure to furnish current/valid proof of financial responsibility.

ONE-VEHICLE ACCIDENT:
On February 18th at approximately 11:13 p.m. a one vehicle crash occurred on US-488 near Mountville Road in Perry Township, Lawrence County. According to the report, Drake Tomak, 18, of Ellwood City, was traveling east in a 2010 Dodge Avenger that exited the roadway striking a fence along the berm. There were no injuries as a result of the crash. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

DUI:
On February 20th at approximately 4:37 a.m. a one vehicle crash occurred on Mount Jackson Road (SR-108) near Nora Drive, North Beaver Township, Lawrence County. According to the report, Joessa Ferrucci, 26, of Wampum, was traveling east in a 2010 Jeep Wrangler when it exited the south bern of the roadway, striking a tree and utility pole. Ferrucci was arrested for the suspicion of DUI and the vehicle was towed from the scene.

HIT AND RUN:
On January 11th at approximately 12:46 p.m., PA State Police responded to a report of a hit and run collision involving a pedestrian Fed-Ex delivery driver that had occurred on Portersville Road (PA-488) near River Road, Perry Township, Lawrence County. According to the report, the pedestrian, Michael Pacholec, 48, of Youngstown,  just delivered a package in the area, while walking back toward his delivery vehicle across the street, upon the north shoulder of the roadway, an unknown vehicle traveling westbound had struck the left shoulder of the pedestrian. This force caused the victim to spin clockwise and hit the ground. The unknown vehicle continued west fleeing the scene, never having stopped. The pedestrian was unable to describe the vehicle, its operator, or occupants. The pedestrian sustained minor injury and chose to seek medical evaluation elsewhere from the scene.

source: New Castle City Police Department Facebook

NARCOTICS SEARCH WARRANT/ ARRESTS:
On Wednesday, members of the Lawrence County Special Investigative Unit, New Castle City Police Department, PA Office of Attorney General and the Lawrence County Criminal Investigative Division executed a search warrant at a residence located at 755 Lathrop Street apt. #3. Upon entry into the residence, officers located six individuals who were inside of the residence. A search of the residence was conducted and located inside were the following: 69.6 grams of crack cocaine, 86.1 grams of Crystal Meth, 12.9 grams of heroin, 8 suboxone strips, Marijuana, 2 Glock 9mm handguns, $7,055 in Cash and 2 digital weighing scales. The occupants were identified as Marquis GARVIN (Youngstown), Kevon QUILTER (Detroit), Vincent HILL (Youngstown), Patrick HICKS (New Castle), Tyran BASKIN (Detroit), Jeremiah MILLER (Youngstown). All six individuals were arrested and brought to the NCPD for processing. GARVIN, MILLER and HILL are being charged with 3 counts of Possession with the intent to Deliver and BASKIN, QUILTER and HICKS are being charged with one count of Possession with the intent to Deliver. Individuals were placed into Lawrence County Jail pending arraignment.

COCAINE TRAFFICKING:
Deia Eggleston, 46, of New Castle, pleaded guilty last week to one count of violating federal narcotics laws. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Eggleston was prosecuted in connection with a cocaine distribution drug trafficking organization located in New Castle that included, among other individuals, Dondi Searcy, Jr. Eggleston participated in the conspiracy by allowing Searcy and others to use her home to manufacture and store illegal narcotics and firearms. She also assisted Searcy in connection with a kilogram of cocaine that Searcy arranged to have mailed from California to the home next door to Eggleston’s residence. That package was intercepted by law enforcement prior to delivery. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.