Police and Fire

POLICE REPORTS: Criminal Complaints

The following are police criminal complaints filed at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Lawrence County office of Honorable Jerry G. Cartwright. According to a complaint, on Wednesday, October 30th at approximately 1:29 a.m. a traffic stop in Perry Township led to controlled substance seizure. Police stopped a 2011 Chevy Impala for failing to stop at an intersection on Portersville Road at its intersection with Mercer Road and conducted a traffic stop. The operator claimed that she failed to stop because of vehicle braking issues. Officers then asked the male passenger for identification, but when provided by the male passenger, returned no…


Ellwood City Cocaine Dealer Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years (180 months) in prison and six years of supervised release on his conviction of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Taurean Potter, age 34, of Ellwood City Pennsylvania. According to information presented to the court during his trial, Potter sold cocaine out of Ellwood City bars in 2017 and 2018, and he sold cocaine to other cocaine dealers who would further…


POLICE REPORTS: Criminal Complaints

The following are police criminal complaints filed at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Lawrence County office of Honorable Jerry G. Cartwright. According to a complaint, on Thursday, October 3 at approximately 7:00am, PA State Police responded to a one-vehicle crash on State Route 168 near the intersection of Patterson Road that led to the DUI arrest of Kevin Walker, 49, of New Galilee. A silver Jeep Laredo was over an embankment and the operator had left the scene on foot. The fire department on scene related to a male in his 40’s, with short hair and a Steelers t-shirt had walked…


Ellwood City Felon Sentenced to 12½ Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Offenses

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 150 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release on his conviction of violating federal firearms and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. Senior United States District Judge Reggie B. Walton imposed the sentence on Derick Davare, age 32. According to information presented to the court, from in and around 2015, and continuing thereafter to on or about October 22, 2018, Derick Davare conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, a Schedule…


Portersville Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charges

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Portersville, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. Raymond Chrzanowski, age 51, pleaded guilty to three counts before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration initiated a wiretap investigation, primarily targeting the GBK street gang and drug trafficking in and around an area known as the Greenway Projects, located in the West…


POLICE REPORTS: Several Traffic Stops Lead To Various Violations; Reckless Driving; Assault

According to a criminal complaint, on September 16 at approximately 9:00 am, in a routine patrol, Ellwood City policeman observed old Jason Santellan, 40, of Ellwood City, walking east on Crescent Avenue near Cherry Way. After confirming an active bench warrant for Mr. Santellan, police made contact with Santellan. Police asked Santellan if he had anything on him at which time Santellan provided police with a black box that he stated contained a ‘dab.’ Police took Santellan into custody on the warrant. A search later found one needle in Santellan’s back pocket. The suspect was arrested and charged with use/possession…


Ellwood City Woman Sentenced to Prison for Probation Violation

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 months imprisonment followed by three years supervised release after the Court found that she violated her probation by committing perjury at a federal trial, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Kacie Zito, 33. According to information presented to the court, on June 12, 2019, at the trial of Taurean Potter, Ms. Zito committed perjury when she denied that Potter provided her cocaine that she later sold. Despite Zito’s false testimony,…


Bernstine to Announce Legislation on Parole Process for Violent Offenders

ELLWOOD CITY – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) announced today that he will be introducing legislation which focuses on the parole process for violent offenders. This in the wake of the recent murder of a child in Lawrence County. Bernstine will participate in a press conference held at the Lawrence County Government Center, on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. with Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa regarding Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Keith Burley. He is the defendant charged with the murder of a child in Lawrence County. Bernstine’s legislation would postpone consideration of a violent inmate’s parole until an additional 24…


POLICE: Fraudulent $100 Bill Leads To Arrest

A New Castle man was arrested last month after attempted to pass a fraudulent $100 bill at a local gas station. Jaycob Heasley, 18, of New Castle, was arrested on charges of theft by deception, driving under the influence, and driving the wrong way, after police pursued the suspect and conducted a traffic stop shortly after the fraudulent bill was presented in an attempt to purchase a bag of Skittles at Uni-Mart just after midnight on August 16, 2019. Police were dispatched to Uni-Mart and given a description of the suspect who had left in a sedan with a female…


Local Man Charged With Terroristic Threats

On Wednesday, July 31, the Ellwood City Police received a call from a home on Franklin Avenue from a woman who said there was a situation that needed their attention. The woman informed the police that there was a man wearing a black shirt and black shorts walking on Franklin Avenue. She further told police that he had a bag with him and was armed with a knife. According to police reports, the man in question was David Carter of Ellwood City. Carter was armed with a small pocket knife and a small axe. Police placed Carter into custody before…