Police and Fire

Ellwood City Man Dies In 2-Vehicle Crash In West Deer Township

An Ellwood City man died in a two-vehicle crash in West Deer on Monday morning. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man on Tuesday as Mark Tedrow, 35. The crash happened shortly after 10 a.m. in the 300 block of Deer Creek Valley Road. According to West Deer police Chief Jon Lape, Tedrow was driving a box truck south on Deer Creek Valley Road when just south of Tarentum-Culmerville Road he veered off the road for about 50 feet. His truck crossed back over the road, hitting a northbound car before hitting the guiderail and riding down the…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY: According to PA State Police, during the overnight hours between March 13 and March 14, a burglary took place in Perry Township. It was reported between 9pm on Saturday and 10:00am on Sunday, March 14th an unknown forced entry into a garage on Van Gorder Mill Road and stole several items. Some of the items taken from the garage include a chainsaw, several chains, rigid power tools, excaliber crossbow, quad winch and other miscellaneous tools. Any information related to this incident can be forwarded to the PA State Police New Castle Barracks. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: According to a…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

VEHICLE FIRE: On February 15, at approximately 1:32 a.m., a Fombell man was involved in a vehicle fire on Route-18 in North Beaver Township. According to the report, police responded to a report of a PennDOT salt truck that was on fire in the area of PA-18 and Gilmore Road in Lawrence County. According to the information provided by driver, Ronald McElwain, 54, the salt truck was traveling north when he heard a pop, and smoke started filling the cabin. McElwain was able to pull off the roadway and exit the vehicle without injury. The salt truck suffered catastrophic damage…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

RESISTING ARREST: According to a Pennsylvania State Police Public Information Release Report, Andrew Mercado, 33, of Koppel, was charged with resisting arrest after a warrant was executed on February 10, 2021. According to the report, Mercado was uncooperative and was subsequently charged with resisting arrest at a Wayne Township residence. Charges filed and will be pending through the District Magistrate Jerry Cartwright office. Mercado was incarcerated at the Lawrence County Jail. PROBATION VIOLATION: According to published reports, an Ellwood City man charged with pulling out a loaded handgun during an Ellport bar fight last year has been sentenced to two…


POLICE: Beaver Woman Charged With Sexual Assault Of Darlington Minor

According to a Pennsylvania State Police Public Information Release Report, a four month investigation has put a Beaver woman in jail. On February 8th, the Beaver Criminal Investigation Unit responded to a residence in Darlington Township to investigate an alleged sexual assault incident. Upon investigation, it was determined that Janine Young, 37, had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old male juvenile victim numerous times.  The report cites the date(s) of incident ranging from 10/1/2020 to 2/8/2021. Young was taken into custody and lodged at the Beaver County Jail for Statutory Sexual Assault, Indecent Assault, Corruption of Minors, and Unlawful Contact with…


POLICE: Vehicle Accident On Lawrence Avenue Causes Damages

According to an Ellwood City Police Department report, and on Wednesday, February 3rd at approximately 11:00 p.m., a vehicle accident on Lawrence Avenue caused damages outside of a local restaurant establishment. Ellwood City Police were dispatched to 708 Lawrence Avenue at Mike’s Main Street for a motor vehicle accident. LEOC advised that a vehicle had struck the building. Upon arrival, police located the operator of a 2020 Ford Transit Van who was identified as Donald Frelin II, 31, of Ellwood City. Frelin and his fiance, Dustie White, were in the back of the van with their 1-year-old son. Frelin and…


Animal Cruelty Investigation Case In Lawrence County

According to a Pennsylvania State Police Troop D Press Release, an animal cruelty investigation report was file in Washington Township, Lawrence County last week. According to the report, and on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at approximately 3:30 p.m., PA State Police assisted Lawrence County Humane Officer and responded to 535 Rabbit Haven Lane, just northeast of New Castle, in reference to an Animal cruelty complaint. The residence was reported to be a single wide mobile home sitting on a basement. The initial investigation determined that the residence was deplorable, holding numerous dogs and other animals in unsanitary conditions inside and…


Toys For Tots Fundraiser A Success Among Borough Departments

With the pandemic taking away so much from children this year, the Borough of Ellwood City wanted to help make sure Christmas was not on the list. The borough held a Toys for Tots challenge among their departments over the holidays and generosity kicked into high gear. Randy Gatto, Public Works Director, and Rhiannon Schnell, Public Works Secretary, organized the drive that started in early November.  Schnell had previous experiences with Toys for Tots campaigns when she previously worked at McElwains and was happy to start something within the Borough. “The Borough of Ellwood City has the best group of…


Bernstine Bill on Parole Process for Violent Offenders Passes House Committee

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) announced today that his legislation which focuses on the parole process for violent offenders in the wake of the 2019 murder of a child in Lawrence County, passed the House Judiciary Committee. Markie’s Law was named after Mark Mason, an 8-year-old boy who was brutally stabbed to death by a man who was paroled at the end of his minimum sentence for homicide, even after committing two separate assaults of other inmates while behind bars. “I applaud the House Judiciary Committee for approving this legislation,” said Bernstine. “Markie’s Law bill must get over the…


Convicted Beaver County Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Cocaine Trafficking Charge

PITTSBURGH – Harold Novick pled guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine between 2017 and 2019, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. Novick, age 40, formerly a resident of Beaver County, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing to occur on May 24, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Novick was on state parole for a prior cocaine-trafficking conviction when he committed the additional drug-trafficking crime to which he pled guilty. The law provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000,000. Under the Federal…