Police and Fire

Officer Involved Shooting in North Sewickley Township

A man was shot and killed by Pennsylvania state police in North Sewickley Township after assaulting and stealing the cruiser of an Ohio state police officer Friday, April 4. According to a state police press release, and at approximately 6:00 p.m., members of the Pennsylvania State Police were notified that an Ohio State Trooper had been assaulted and that the suspect had subsequently stolen the marked police vehicle. It was reported that the stolen vehicle was headed Eastbound on 1-76. Members of the Pennsylvania State Police encountered the vehicle in PA near the Ohio border and a pursuit ensued. Troopers…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

BURGLARY: Sometime between March 30th at approximately 7:00 p.m. and March 31st at approximately 8:00 a.m., an unlocked detached garage on Possum Hollow Road, New Beaver Borough was entered, and stolen from within was approximately 5-10 pounds of copper pipes worth approximately $25-$30. If anyone has any information or could provide surveillance video or suspicious activity within the area, please contact PA State Police at 724-598-2211 and reference PA2025-383336 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT: Dylan Jesse Hinchberger, 31, was charged with one felony count each of aggravated assault, robbery with inflicted injury, vehicle robbery, burglary, theft and firearm possession without a license; and…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

ENDANGERMENT OF A CHILD: Katie Defonde, 39, of Ellwood City, is charged with endangerment of a child after an incident on March 14th. According to a criminal complaint and at approximately 4:22p.m. police were dispatched to Orchard Avenue due to a report of a child found unattended in the street. When police made contact with the caller, he stated that he and his wife had found the approximately one-year-old alone and unsupervised in the street. Navolio also made reference to where he thought the child’s residence was located. When officers arrived at the location and made contact with Defonde, she…


Koppel Teenager Charged With Stalking, Harrassment

On Thursday, March 13th, 19-year-old Dylan Bish, of Koppel, was arrested in connection with a series of Threats being made to his female Neighbor on the 3300 block of 3rd Avenue according to a press release made available by the Koppel Borough Police Department. The Victim had reported handwritten note left on the door of her apartment with her name on it an a phone number in attempted for her to make contact with him some time in November of 2024. The victim had brought the note to the police department and on the department phone we attempted to text…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

DISORDERLY CONDUCT: David Carter, 45, of Ellwood City, is charged with Disorderly Conduct and Public Drunkenness after an incident on February 21st. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 4:01 p.m., police were dispatched to the intersection of Spring Avenue and 5th Street for an intoxicated male who had a beer in his hands yelling at kids and at vehicles. Police later located Carter at the front door of his residence. Carter is known by local police and have had many dealings with him for similar misconduct according to the complaint. When police located Carter at the front door…


Riverside High School Swim Coach Arrested After Inappropriate Relationship With Student

A Riverside High School swim coach was arrested Wednesday for alleged misconduct with a student athlete. According to a criminal complaint and published reports, Alaina Marshall, 29, of Beaver Falls was charged with 40 felonies, consisting of 38 counts of intercourse/sexual contact with a student, in addition to corruption of minors, and unlawful contact with a minor. Police say the relationship began in 2023 when the victim, a 16-year-old sophomore at the time, first talked about a breakup he was going through with Marshall because Marshall was also a therapist. The complaint relates that on February 18th the student spoke…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

HARASSMENT: On February 2nd at approximately 12:03 a.m. police responded to a report of physical altercation at a local bar in Koppel Borough. Police learned that the suspect left, and later returned to the scene to speak to police. Investigation is ongoing according to a criminal complaint. HARASSMENT: Matthew Summerville, 38, of Ellwood City is charged with harassment after an incident on February 2nd. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 1:11 a.m., police responded to a report of domestic violence at a residence on Wampum Avenue, Ellwood City. When police arrived on scene they made contact with the…


Ellwood City Fire Department Among Many To Receive State Grants

Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) announced Wednesday local fire companies and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies were awarded state grants totaling nearly $216,000 from the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program. The program was created by the Legislature and is administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC). Projects eligible for funding include construction or renovation of a fire or ambulance company facility, purchase or repair of equipment, training, or reduction of existing debt. “Local fire and EMS agencies are the backbone of our community’s safety, and it’s crucial that we support…


POLICE: Local Narcotics Raid Leads To Arrest

On January 30th, 2025, members of the Lawrence County District Attorney’s HIDTA Drug Task Force, the Ellwood City Police Department, and the Lawrence County Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) executed a search warrant at 306 Wood Street, Ellwood City. Operation “The Issue is Smoot” began at approximately 6:10 a.m. when CIRT knocked and announced their presence. Once no contact was made at the front door, entry was made. CIRT secured the residence, locating and detaining one female. The target of the investigation, 26-year-old Aubrey Quillan Smoot, was not present at the residence. As a result of the search, the following…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

HARASS PHYSICAL CONTACT: Brandon Falen, 50, of Ellwood City, is charged with physical harassment after an incident occurring on January 20th at a residence on Laurel Avenue in Wayne Township. According to a police report, and at approximately 7:34 p.m., police were dispatched to an active domestic involving Falen and his 24-year-old daughter and 22-year-old son. According to the report, Falen had struck his daughter and son with a broom and a hammer which caused minor injuries. Falen was placed under arrest and taken to a nearby hospital for a mental health assessment due to him formally stating he wanted…