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Police and Fire

November 26, 2025

POLICE: HIDTA Operation DTO Dismantle Results In One Arrest

DEA Pittsburgh District Office Group 66, Lawrence County HIDTA and the FBI North Country Taskforce targeted the narcotics operation of the Rodney MADISON Drug Trafficking Organization. Intelligence information revealed the MADISON’s DTO has distributed Fentanyl (powder and counterfeit pills), powder Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine in western Pennsylvania over the last 6-12 months. On November 25, 2025, personnel from DEA Group 66, the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, FBI North County Task Force, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and the New Castle Police Department executed Search Warrants on target locations within the City of New Castle. Seized during the…

November 7, 2025

POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: On September 28th the Beaver Patrol Unit received a report that several vehicles were damaged at approximately 4:00 a.m with stones and tomatoes. The incident was reported to take place on and near Plumb Street in Darlington Borough. The only evidence currently available is a Cab Pickup Truck on several home cameras, according to a criminal complaint. If anyone has any information please call PSP Beaver at 724-773-7400. FAILURE TO PROVIDE ACCURATE REGISTRATION INFO: Anthony Black, 25, of New Castle, is charged with Failure to Provide Accurate Registration Information after an incident reported October 27th. According to a…

October 10, 2025

Drug Raid At Ellwood City Residence Results In Four Arrests

According to a criminal complaint, a task force raid at a house in Ellwood City results in the arrest of four local individuals and the seizuire of suspected methamphetamine and other suspected narcotics. Daniel Martin, 46; Donald McClain, 53; Ryleigh Lucas, 31; and Matthew Caldwell, 33, all of Ellwood City are each charged with counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance and/or Delivery of a Controlled Substance after the Lawrence County HIDTA Task Force executed a search warrant at a house at McClain’s address in the 400 block of Third Street, Ellwood City. According to the complaint, the task force…

October 10, 2025

Ellwood City Mayor Completes Security and Privacy: General Role Training

Ellwood City Mayor Anthony Court recently completed the Security and Privacy: General Role training and has reported receiving a score of 100%. Court said the training was approximately four hours and included his test. “It is an important tool for security and privacy to allow access to areas that contain sensitive law enforcement material” Court said. “I recommend all mayors to join Criminal Justic Information Service (CJIS) and to go through this training to gain a better understanding of what officers go through to protect private rights, criminal history information and other sensitive documents that aren’t allowed to be reviewed…

October 6, 2025

Ellwood City Borough Council Accepts Resignation of Police Officer Robert Magnifico

Ellwood City Borough Council voted to accept the resignation of police officer Robert Magnifico during a special public meeting Monday night. In a unanimous vote, Council determined that, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 will be Magnifico’s last day of employment. Previously during a regular meeting held on July, 15, 2024, Council accepted his entrance into the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) with his employment end date at that time being July 15, 2028. According to the terms of the DROP, the participant has the right to terminate employment at an earlier date than planned, which Magnifico enacted with a letter of…

October 3, 2025

Attorney General Charges Ellwood City Officer With Assault

Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Friday that a former Lawrence County police officer has been charged with assault, official oppression and related offenses regarding a June incident at a Sheetz store. Robert Magnifico, then a sergeant with the Ellwood City Police Department, pushed a 19-year-old man, denied the man of his rights, then filed a report about the incident that was not an accurate version of what took place. Magnifico is charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, official oppression, tampering with public records, and unsworn falsification to authorities. (He retired last month.) On June 6, 2025, Magnifico was…

October 3, 2025

POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

FLEEING: John Tindall, 22, of Ellwood City, is charged with fleeing an officer after an traffic stop on Factory Avenue on September 24th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 6:01 p.m., officers apprehended Tindall after he attempted to flee the officers from near Factory Ave for speeding through multiple stop signs on a motorcycle. Police were able to detain him without incident and were advised that the registration was two years out of date and that Tindall did not possess a valid license to operate the vehicle according to the complaint. FLEEING: Shyanne Getty, 34, of Portersville, is…

October 2, 2025

Franklin Twp VFD Celebrating 90 Year Anniversary With Open House On Saturday

Franklin Township is proud to share that the Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department is celebrating 90 years of service (1935–2025)! To honor this milestone, the Fire Department will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, October 4th at the Frisco Station located at 808 Old Zelienople Road, Ellwood City. All residents are invited to come out and join in the celebration. The open house event will take place from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. with many activities. Event Schedule: 11:00 AM – Doors Open 11:30 AM – Dedication Ceremony 12:00 PM – Complimentary Refreshments 1:00 PM – Cake Cutting 3:00…

September 19, 2025

POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

THEFT: On July 1st at approximately 11:00 p.m. police were dispatched to New Galilee on a report of theft. The victim, 81, of New Galilee reported his pellet stove stolen, which was located in the basement of his residence, at a value of around $2,300.00 Investigation pending further according to the complaint. RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY: Theodore Yeagley, 49, of Beaver Falls, is charged with Receiving Stolen Property after an incident occurring on June 24th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 7:13 a.m., police were dispatched to State Route 18 on a report of theft. Police were informed that…

August 29, 2025

POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

THEFT: On August 16th, and at approximately 6:00 a.m., police responded to a report of Online Theft. Upon further investigation, officers learned that the victims, a 71-year-old female and 73-year-old male both of Volant, were frauded $3000.00 total from a fake Facebook post regarding listed items for sale according to a criminal complaint. THEFT: Tyler Nicolls, 34, of New Castle, is charged with Theft of a motor vehicle after an incident occurring on August 12th at approximately 9:34 a.m. Police were informed by the victim that she allowed Nicolls to use the vehicle to take him to and from work,…