Police and Fire

POLICE: Weekly Blotter

HARASSMENT: The Pennsylvania State Police investigated a domestic violence incident on August 8th on Portersville Road in Perry Township. While investigating this incident, the Accused was charged with Harassment. MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS: On August 8th Pennsylvania State Police New Castle responded to a hit and run incident on State Route 18 in North Beaver Township. Unit Two, a 2019 Ford Transit was traveling North on State Route 18 when a orange Chevy truck going South towards Wampum crossed into his lane of travel and side swiped him. The truck fled South and did not stop. The Chevy’s driver side mirror…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

TERRORISTIC THREATS James Urbanic, 71, of Ellwood City, was charged with making Terroristic Threats on July 5th in Ellwood City. Police received a report of terroristic threats and upon arrival of the scene, the victim stated that Urbanic and himself were in a dispute over property on Tara Drive and Hickernell Road. During the dispute, the victim claimed Urbanic made numerous threats and then proceeded to enter his garage to retrieve what was later identified as a shotgun and loaded it in view of the victim and pointed it at the victim for several seconds. PA State Police proceeded to…


Beaver County Man Admits Lying on Firearms Purchase Forms

PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, has pled guilty to a charge of making a false statement to purchase firearms, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced this last week. Calvin Brady Jr, age 24, plead guilty before Judge David S. Cercone on July 29, 2021. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on December 12, 2020, the Brady Jr. purchased four Taurus, model GC3, 9mm caliber pistols from Rural King Holdings LLP, a federal firearm licensee in Monaca, PA. During the purchase, two males accompanied the defendant. Surveillance footage shows the…


POLICE: Weekly Blotter

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT: New Castle Police had responded to Reckless Endangerment report near Pollock Store Road in Lawrence County on July 25th. Christopher Rodgers, age 40 from Volant fired two rounds from a shotgun at the victim’s residence. Rodgers has been continually creating loud noises and firing fireworks causing a disturbance in the area. The Pennsylvania State Police New Castle Barracks had been called to the area approximately four times within the last ten days and the actor was for summary disorderly conduct and harassment on July 24th for causing loud noises and a disturbance. Troopers arrived at Rodgers’ residence and…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

THEFT: New Castle Police is investigating a report of identity theft in Wayne Township from July 13th. The victim was advised by his employer that they had received a notification that he had applied for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. However, he made no such claims. New Castle would like to remind everyone to use sound judgement when divulging personal or financial information. Actively monitor your credit report to look for inconsistencies or suspicious activity. Additionally, please visit www.uc.pa.gov to commence a claim for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Fraud. THEFT: New Castle Police was contacted on July 13th to a victim in the…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

THEFT:  PSP Beaver responded to a report on June 28th in the Homewood Boro in Beaver. Officers responded to a report of tools being stolen from a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado truck, which was parked in the rear parking lot in the Super 8 Motel. It was discovered that an unknown suspect had stolen a gutter bender, nail gun, air compressor and a jig saw from the truck bed and tool rack of the Silverado. The suspect loaded the said tools into a silver Dodge Caravan, which had a black hood and black trim around the vehicle. Any persons with information…


Ellwood City Man Among Two County Residents Indicted on Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

PITTSBURGH, PA – Two Lawrence County residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of attempted production, production, receipt, and distribution of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a child, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today. The three-count Indictment named David Bates, 61, of Ellwood City, PA 16117, and Tamara Kreitzer, 33, of New Castle, PA 16101, as defendants. According to the Indictment, in or between July 2020 and October 2020, Bates and Kreitzer attempted to and did use, persuade, induce entice and coerce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

THEFT:  PSP New Castle is currently attempting to identify a white, non-Hispanic, heavy set, female, with dark hair. Her name is Wendy and she is an employee of Instacart. She is known to drive a black colored Nissan, Titan (truck). If anyone has any information on Wendy, please contact Trooper McBride at 724-598-2211. Wendy currently stands accused of stealing a wheel borrow from on Frew Mill Road in Slippery Rock Township on May 13th. IDENTITY THEFT: On June 19th, PSP New Castle spoke to a 50-year-old Wayne Township female who had their identity stolen. The actor(s) opened up an unemployment…


Ellwood Police Identify Hit And Run Suspect

According a social media post made by the The Ellwood City Police Department on Monday morning, the police posted a recent update on a hit and run incident and have identified the operator/vehicle owner. The post reads as follows: As of 12:00 p.m., the persons involved in this hit & run motor vehicle accident have been located. The investigation will be completed and the incident will be closed. As always, we are sincerely grateful for the support of our community. The accident was reported to have occurred on Saturday, June 12th between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m….


Ellwood City Man Sustains Injuries In Motorcycle Accident

PA State Police in New Castle responded to a motorcycle accident in Wayne Township on Sunday, June 6th on Wampum Road around 11:30 p.m. The officers responded to an accident in which a 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle had struck a guardrail on the right side of the roadway on Wampum Road. According to the preliminary investigation, the motorcycle, driven by 65 year old Keith Shaffer of Ellwood City, was traveling east on Wampum Road when he went off the roadway to the right, struck a residence sign, and then struck a guardrail with a mailbox fixed behind it. Shaffer, who…