Police and Fire

Pennsylvania State Police have arrested Justin Gates, 31, of Ellwood City after an investigation found Gates in El Dorado Motel located in Shenango Township. According to the police report, on Tuesday, August 25, police were looking for Gates in reference to felony warrants for a separate related incident. Gates was involved in a domestic dispute on Sunday, August 24 where he assaulted his girlfriend and killed his son’s 8 week old puppy. [READ MORE] Through investigation it was determined Gates was staying at the El Dorado Motel, 2618 New Butler Road, in Shenango Township, Lawrence County. Gates was located in…

According to a PA State Police report, a 79-year-old man from Ellwood City died in a one vehicle crash that took place Sunday afternoon between Wampum and Ellwood City. While traveling east on Wampum Road, a Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck driven by Glenn Freed, 79, of Ellwood City, lost control for unknown reasons and impacted a utility pole, approximately 10 feet of the right south shoulder on the road. The vehicle came to rest on the shoulder of Wampum Road measuring 431 feet east of Rock Point Road. Freed was transported to UPMC Presbyterian via STAT Medevac helicopter where he…

According to a public information release report made available on the PA State Police website, police are looking for Justin Gates, 31, of Ellwood City, PA in connection with a domestic dispute that took place on Sunday. According to the report, Gates was involved in a physical domestic on Sunday night. Gates assaulted his girlfriend and killed his son’s 8 week old Australian Shepherd puppy, Bear. The incident was reported to take place on Crestview Lane in Slippery Rock Township in Lawrence County. Gates is charged with strangulation, terroristic threats, endangering the welfare of children, simple assault, recklessly endangering other…

On Wednesday, August 12, at approximately 8:00 pm, PA State Police responded to a report of a hit/run crash in which a motorist was traveling south on Route-18 Big Beaver Boulevard near Possum Hollow Road and struck a metal fence, causing substantial damage, owned by “The Race Place” in New Beaver Boro, Lawrence County. Th accident destroyed six metal poles holding up the fence wiring. Upon arrival to the scene, police examined the scene and interviewed the victim/witnesses. State police discovered a door handle that might have belonged to the vehicle near the impact site. After checking video survelliance in…

The following are police criminal complaints filed at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Lawrence County office of Honorable Jerry G. Cartwright. Repeated Car Theft On June 28 at 1:17 AM ECPD responed to the area of Park Ave. and Seventh Street after a reporting party observed two males (one in white and the other in red) getting into a parked vehicle and grabbing items out of the car. When police arrived at the scene, they noted there were items laying outside the driver side door. They conducted a search for the two men, but when no contact was made, they returned…

On June 27, at around 2:26 AM, Ellwood City Police Department officers reported to an area hospital after a call came in to report a man was in the lobby bleeding from the neck. When they made contact with victim John Lucchesi and while waiting for emergency services to arrive, police questioned the man as to what happened. Luccesi reported that after he had offered a hitchhiker a ride, he had stabbed him after an argument. Lucchesi said he had picked up the hitchhiker near the BnB Express on Fourth Street. The pair began driving when an argument began and…

The following are police criminal complaints filed by the Ellwood City Police Department. PUBLIC INTOXICATION On Tuesday, July 7 at 1:08 AM, ECPD reported to Hazel Manor for a disturbance in the parking lot. When they arrived, they made contact with a visibly intoxicated Jerrin Brandon, 30, of Fombell, outside the front door of the bar. Brandon was stating that he wanted to fight owner Jeff Weisz because Brandon believed that he “stole money and cigarettes from his girlfriend”. Police asked Brandon to leave, to which he walked to 7/11 to ask permission to leave his motorbike in their parking…

The following are police criminal complaints filed at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Lawrence County office of Honorable Jerry G. Cartwright. Local Man Charged for making Terroristic Threats to ex-girlfriend 22-year-old Michael Sopo of Harrisville, Pennsylvania is being charged with multiple forms of assault and harassment after his ex-girlfriend called and reported him for an altercation on Wednesday, June 17. Pennsylvania State Police responded to a report by a female that had been assaulted by her ex-boyfriend, Sopo. After making contact with the victim on Clyde Street, New Beaver Borough, they obtained her written statement on the incident. She related that…