Police and Fire

Ellwood City Man Found Dead After Stand Off With Police In Cranberry

A 37-year-old man from Ellwood City was exchanged gunfire before he was found dead in a wooded area after he exchanged gunfire with police on Tuesday, July 2nd near the Cranberry Highlands Golf Course in Butler County. According to a PA State Police report, and at approximately 10:30 a.m., Cranberry Township Police were called for a suspicious male who had pulled his vehicle over near an entrance to the golf course. The male, later identified as Logan Cumberland, 37, of Ellwood City, left the immediate area prior to police arrival, was observed to be armed with a rifle. Responding officers…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

THEFT: According to a police report, a 58-year-old male from Ellwood City reported a theft of a gun from his residence on Dutch Ridge Road, Wayne Township. Upon police arrival, it was discovered that a Ruger 22 cal. was taken from the clove box of an unlocked Chevy Silverado. The gun is valued at $476.97. The theft was reported to have taken place between April 1st and June 19th of 2024 and the investigation is ongoing. THEFT: According to a police report, a 38-year-old female from Ellwood City reported theft by deception. The incident was reported to have taken place…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE: Trent Sirak, 21, of Ellwood City is charged with Driving without a license after an incident on May 21st. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 7:40 p.m., officers were patrolling and had noticed a green quad traveling at high speeds. Police followed with sirens and lights, but the operator fled. Police then spoke to Abigail Naher who related that Sirak had been operating a green quad recently. POSSESSION/USE: Jamie Pezzuti, 46, of New Castle is charged with Driving Without a License after an incident on May 29th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT: Arzie Hall, 20, of Ellwood City is charged with Aggravated Assault by Vehicle after an incident on March 26th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 7:35 p.m., police were dispatched to Beaver Avenue for a motor vehicle accident. When police spoke to Hall and his passenger, they were told an argument had occurred and that Hall, the driver of the vehicle, looked away from the road and had hit a nearby telephone pole. The passenger was taken to a nearby hospital and later, after the passenger returned home from hospital, the victims mother relayed that the…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

POSSESSION: Logan Eversole, 20, of Ellwood City is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and other charges on April 25th. According to a criminal complaint, an incident occurred and police were dispatched around the area of Park Avenue and 7th Street. Police observed Eversole sitting in a vehicle and as they approached they smelled an overwhelming marijuana smell. Eversole’s eyes were bloodshot and seemed to be on some kind of pill. As Police spoke to Eversole, and attempted to place him under arrest, Eversole resisted. He was taken to the Police Department and released to his mother upon her…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

THEFT: Between the times of 4:00 p.m. on April 24th and 12:26 a.m. on April 27th, an unknown suspect proceeded into the unlocked door of a 53-year-old Wampum man’s vehicle located on Henry Street, Wayne Township, and stole a black Sig Sauer P365, gun magazine, Oakley sunglasses, two pocket knives, and flashlight. Property stolen valued at over $1,000.00. This investigation is ongoing. BURGLARY: On April 15th at approximately 1:40 p.m., PSP New Castle was dispatched to a 3400 block of SR 18, New Beaver Borough, for a reported Burglary. The known 91-year-old Wampum female reported that upon arriving home at…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: On April 3rd at approximately 9:00PM, unknown actor(s) damaged a 41-year-old Wampum female victims vehicle. The unknown actor(s) left front window was damaged. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: Edward Allen Laurain, 54, of Ellwood City, is charged with Theft and Criminal Mischief after an incident on March 22nd. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 11:04AM, police were dispatched to the scene and were informed that another police office had began on a foot chase after Laurain after it was suspected he was stealing one of the outdoor central air units from the landlord’s property on Spring Avenue. After Laurain…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

ASSAULT WITH A WEAPON: Richard Alan Criss, 50, of Edinburg, is charged with Assault after an incident on March 23rd. According to a police report, and at approximately 7:50PM, police responded to a report of an active domestic in Mahoning township. Police found that Criss had engaged in a verbal argument with a 52-year-old female victim of Wampum before brandishing a gun and firing it in the direction of the victim. Criss fled the scene and police located him driving a vehicle, in which he seemed impaired and later consented to a legal blood draw according to the report. THEFT:…


Four Individuals From Ellwood City Charged in Connection In Drug Trafficking Operation Originating in Puerto Rico

Four individuals from Ellwood City are among seventeen from Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; and Youngstown, Ohio, who have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for violating federal narcotics, firearms, and racketeering laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced on Thursday. The defendants were charged in two Indictments that were unsealed today and allege that, between September 2022 and March 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine throughout Western Pennsylvania, specifically in the New Castle area, as well as in Youngstown, Ohio. As alleged in the Indictments, members of the two charged groups would transport, either…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

ASSAULT: On February 28th at approximately 1:46AM police responded to a call of possible domestic disturbance. The arrestee assaulted his two cousins and destroyed their cell phones over an argument. The arrestee, a 17-year-old male of New Wilmington, was charged with two counts of simple assault, two counts of harassment, and one count of criminal mischief, according to criminal complaint. CORRUPTION OF MINORS: Garrett Duncan, 23, of Ellwood City, is charged with corruption of minors, displaying obscene/sexual materials and criminal use of a communication facility after an incident reported on February 18th. According to a criminal complaint, Duncan is accused…