Articles by EllwoodCity.org Staff

Wire-tapping in the workplace A Beaver man was accused of recording six coworkers in his office without their knowledge. According to the criminal complaint, on March 8, the victims confronted defendant Thomas Michael Greene, 55, when they heard their voices coming from his pocket. Greene informed police that he had misunderstood advice from his lawyer and was unaware the recorder was playing. He was arraigned before Magistrate Jerry Cartwright and accused of intercepting oral communication with a portable voice recorder. Stealing Cash from Car According to the criminal complaint, Andrew Leon Mercado, 29, of Koppel, is accused of stealing $150…

According to the criminal complaint, in March, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force received intelligence concerning a man referred to as “Flakka,” residing in Beaver Falls. “Flakka” was known to sell heroin from a house on Ellwood Avenue in Ellwood City. On March 23, police made arrangements to purchase $80 worth of heroin from “Flakka,” identified as Michael Alexander James, 22, from Chicago. Following the operation, James was arrested. He was arraigned before Magistrate Jerry Cartwright on May 18 and charged with delivery of controlled substances and possession of controlled substances. He was placed in the Lawrence County Jail after…

Brother and Sister Rob Laundromat A brother and sister were charged with stealing from a laundromat. According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 30, 2015, Desiree Elizabeth McQuiston, 28, of Beaver Falls and Joshua Raymond McQuiston, 29, of Fombell, stole money from vending machines and washing machines at Snowy White Laundry on Portersville Road in Ellport. Investigating officers watched security camera footage which showed a female and male enter the building around 11:30 p.m. The two proceeded to smash machines to steal the money until around midnight. An investigation identified the suspects as the McQuiston siblings. They were charged with…