POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

HARRASSMENT:
On December 16th at approximately 8:00 p.m., PA State Police received reports of an altercation that took place at a residence on Orchard Avenue, Ellwood City Borough between a 46-year-old Ellwood City man and a 15-year-old male victim. Upon police arrival it was determined that a physical altercation took place, and both parties requested not to prosecute.

ACCIDENT:
A crash occurred between noon on December 24th and 2:30 p.m. on December 25th on Smiley Stop Road, Wayne Township. According to the release report, the crash occured as a vehicle went off the road on the right and hit a small ditch, and striking a mailbox. The vehicle continued back onto the roadway and continued north. The vehicle lost the lower bumper where the fog lights are located due to debris left at the scene. Anyone with information is aksed to contact PA State Police at 724-598-2211.

ACCIDENT:
On December 16th at approximately 12:23 a.m., PA State Police were dispatched to a one vehicle roll over crash which occurred on River Road, near Tony Ditko Road, Wayne Township. It was determined that a Isuzu Hombre driven by a 31-year-old West Pittsburg man went off the roadway to the right, struck an embankment and overturned onto its roof. The vehicle was disabled and the operator sustained minor injuries and refused medical treatment. The passenger, a 32-year-old female from Beaver Falls, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital.

TERRORISTIC THREATS:
Donald Allen Lutz, 89, of Ellwood City, is charged terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct after an incident on December 21st in Union Township. According to a criminal complaint, Lutz reportedly threatening to kill two employees from the Verizon store after he entered the store to complain about a bill he received after he canceled his plan. According to the report Lutz became angry, aggressive and threw paperwork at a store employee and later made a threat to kill people saying to the store manager, “I’ve killed people before, I’ll kill again. If I get another bill, I’m coming back up here.” According to a criminal background check and prior police reports, Lutz shot and killed a nephew-in-law during a home invasion in December 2017. No charges were filed in the killing, which was determined to be in self defense.

DRUG TRAFFICKING:
Tony McKnight, 57, of New Castle, pleaded guilty this week to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine from March of 2019 through September of 2020 before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. McKnight is one of thirteen defendants charged in the Indictment returned in this case. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating a cocaine and fentanyl trafficking organization that operated throughout the United States, including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico. Beginning in December of 2019 and continuing through August of 2020, the DEA received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. McKnight, as a member of this multistate drug trafficking organization, was intercepted discussing acquiring and distributing cocaine throughout western Pennsylvania. In addition to the intercepted communications, agents seized cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, ecstasy, marijuana, firearms, and bulk United States Currency from members of the organization, including McKnight. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for May 15, 2023. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years to a maximum of 40 years of imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.