Police and Fire

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,…


Beaver Falls Man Admits to Drug Offenses

PITTSBURGH, PA– A former resident of Beaver County, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to violations of the federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced this week. Brandon Quinn, 33, formerly of Beaver Falls, PA, pleaded guilty to a two-count Indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and with possessing 28 grams or more of cocaine base with the intent to distribute it, before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Quinn’s criminal conduct was uncovered during a Title…


Operation On My Way Out Nets Drug Arrest

According to a Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office social media post, Operation On My Way Out netted an arrest in New Castle last week. On Thursday, August 19, 2021, Detectives from the District Attorney’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), New Castle City Police Narcotics, and the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General executed a search warrant at 726 Hazen Street in the City of New Castle. Detectives had an active felony arrest warrant for the resident of the house, David Querriera, and waited until he was exiting his residence before they took him into custody. The search incident to his arrest…


Ellwood City Man Charged With Carjacking, Robbery

According to a social media post from the New Castle Police Department, a 34-year-old Ellwood City man has been arrested after an incident on Monday. According to the account, and on August 16, 2021, New Castle City Police Department (NCPD) officers were dispatched to the Dollar General store on Center Avenue in West Pittsburg in reference to a carjacking which had just occurred. Responding officers spoke to the 82 year old female victim, she stated that a white male with dark hair and dark beard with tattoos had just thrown her out of her vehicle and drove away in her…


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…