Police and Fire

POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, PROPERTY DAMAGE: According to a criminal complaint, on September 26 Ellwood City Police responded to a domestic incident at a residence on Perry Street. Upon arrival police made contact with Tyler Clingensmith, 26, of Ellwood City and a female outside the residence. It was found that Clingensmith was highly intoxicated and had taken the female’s Jeep off-roading and possibly totaled it. Police observed the Jeep covered in mud with damage underneath and a pip hanging. Clingensmith stated he took the Jeep all through Stiefel Park and on and off the trails at the park.  Police placed Clingensmith in…


New Castle Man Admits Role in Multi-State Cocaine Conspiracy

PITTSBURGH – A resident of New Castle pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today. Darnell Latham, 52, of New Castle, Pennsylvania pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine from March of 2019 through September of 2020, before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Latham is one of thirteen defendants charged in the Indictment returned in this case. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration began…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

NOISE DISTURBANCE: Amber Jewel Perez, 36, of Ellwood City, is charged with aggravated harassment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and harassment earlier this month. According to a criminal complaint, officers were called to the neighborhood of Loop Street where they heard loud music coming from a residence. Perez and another woman were in a hot tub on the porch playing loud music. The police instructed them to turn down the music and Perez complied. At 5:35 a.m., the police were sent back to the address for another disturbance. A caller reported that the music was getting louder. Perez emerged…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

SEXUAL ASSAULT OF CHILD: Adam Mitchell, 33, of Canton, Ohio, is facing multiple charges, including Aggravated Indecent Assault of a Child and Indecent Assault of Person Younger than 13 Years of Age after an incident in February. According to the criminal complaint, each separate incident occurred when Mitchell was home alone with the victim, who at the time was 12 years of age, and was suppose to keep an eye on the child while her mother was at work. The victim related that Mitchell touched her inappropriately on three separate occasions. Since the incident the victim’s mother and Mitchell moved…


New Ellwood City Police Officer Introduced

The Borough of Ellwood City Police Department has introduced a new police officer this week. Robert Bird II was sworn in as part of the ceremony led by Mayor Anthony Court. Mayor Court swore Officer Bird in as the newest member of the Ellwood City Police Department. Also attending was Borough of Ellwood City Council President George Celli, pictured on left, and Officer Bird’s proud mother, Jodi Barton on the right.  


POLICE: Weekly Blotter

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT: According to a report, police were dispatched to a one vehicle accident on Plain Grove Road, near Harlansburg Road, in Lawrence County on Sunday, September 12 at approximately 5:45 p.m. where, upon arrival, it was found after interviewing witnesses, the operator of 2010 Harley-Davidson had fallen over on his motorcycle with it resting on his leg causing a suspected serious leg injury. The operator, David Difrischia, 58, of Ellwood City, was transported to the Grove City Hospital where signs of impairment were observed. Defrischia refused to answer questions and refused to submit a blood draw. The motorcycle was…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

HARRASSMENT: According to a police report, and on September 21st at approximately 9:35 a.m., two neighbors in New Beaver Borough got into a disturbance that turned into physical assault. New Castle State Police were dispatched to the disturbance between the neighbors and on scene it was found that a 31-year-old female was assaulted by the male neighbor and threaten by another male. Charges for harassment were filed on both arrestee’s out of Judge Jerry Cartwright’s office. HOMICIDE: On September 18th at approximately 9:11 p.m., Troopers from the PA State Police New Castle barracks were requested to investigate a stabbing and…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

ASSAULT WITH WEAPON: According to a PA State Police report, Katelyn Weller, 26, and Lindsey Weller, 25, both of Ellwood City have been arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after an incident on September 13 at approximately 6:34 p.m. According to the report, PSP New Castle was dispatched to an assault which occurred on West Lawrence Avenue. The 27-year-old victim related that the both Weller females entered his garage, hit him over the head with a rock, continued to assault him and cause property damage within his garage. Troopers then preceded to the suspects resident to conduct interviews….


POLICE: Weekly Blotter

ELLWOOD WOMAN CHARGED IN CAPITOL RIOTS: Julia Jeanette Sizer of Ellwood City surrendered Thursday morning on multiple charges as a result of her attendance at the January Capitol riots. According to court documents, Sizer entered the Capitol eight minutes after the “original surge” forced their way through the door and stayed in the Senate Press Gallery foyer for less than three minutes before leaving the building. Sizer is being charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building…


Former New Castle Anesthesiologist Sentenced for Illegal Prescriptions and Distributing

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court for unlawfully prescribing and distributing controlled substances, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today. United States District Judge David S. Cercone, sentenced Thomas Ranieri, 68, to two years of supervised release, with the first year served as home detention. During his plea hearing on August 21, 2019, the defendant admitted that he previously was a physician who practiced as an anesthesiologist and pain-management specialist in clinics located in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and multiple locations in Ohio. From January 2, 2013, to June 26, 2013,…