Recent Stories

Police and Fire

July 9, 2018

VIDEO: Brake Failure Causes Crash, Killing One Teen

According to published reports and a video, a one vehicle crash late Saturday night resulted in the fatality of a Union teenager after brake failure left his car helplessly careening down Bridge Street. The accident happened around 9:45 p.m. on Wampum Avenue at Bridge Street. According to reports, police said the driver had been trying to use his hand brake to stop the vehicle, but that also failed. His vehicle went over the embankment, striking at least two trees and rolling over, although it did not end up in the Connoquenessing Creek below. The emergency brake apparently gave out coming…

July 6, 2018

Ellwood City Fire Department Gets a Makeover

The Ellwood City Fire Department has gotten a makeover, and the old stucco siding that lined the building of the department has now been replaced by a powder blue siding. The fire department is a combination fire department, which means they have both paid and volunteer firefighters. They are one of 2 in the County that have paid staff. New Castle City has a full time fire department and does not have volunteers. The ECFD members are highly trained in all aspects of the fire service. “The building construction is complete, the only thing left to do is the graphics…

June 8, 2018

Ellwood City Volunteer Fire Department Fundraiser

Ellwood City Volunteer Fire Department is holding a fundraiser for Capt. Frank Condell and family. In March 2018 the ECFD Capt. Frank Condell suffered a significant brain injury. Fire Chief Rick Myers said, “the injury was a natural occurrence and did not occur at the fire station.” According to the department’s statement, Condell was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove a large blood clot. Frank suffered serious bleeding in his brain and the surgery relieved the pressure and stopped the bleeding. Frank has been making steady improvements. Although, Frank is home he…

May 25, 2018

Suspicious Man “Waving Knife Around” at Area Bar

Scott Alan Jackson, 23, Ellwood City was charged with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness May 19 at the Main Street Bar and Grill at 708 Lawrence Ave. Jackson was reportedly waving a knife around at the bar making others uncomfortable. Ellwood City Police Officers were dispatched to the Main Street Bar and Grill, for a suspicious person sitting at the bar. The male was reportedly wearing a camouflage hat and glasses appeared to be highly intoxicated and kept taking a large knife out of his pocket and waving it around. Officers entered the bar from the front and back entrances….

May 22, 2018

POLICE: Unsolicited Electric Department Calls Reported As A Scam

According to a new release made available by the Ellwood City Police Department on Tuesday afternoon, there have been suspicious phone calls made in attempts to collect money on resident electrical service. The Ellwood City Police Department and the Ellwood City Electric Department have received complaints from local residents who have been receiving telephone calls from someone posing as a representative of Ellwood City Electric Department. The caller then threatens to terminate the residents’ electrical service due to delinquency on their electric bill.  The caller then demands payment over the phone. Ellwood City Police Department advises residents to never give…

May 18, 2018

Man Charged with Throwing Items at Occupied Vehicles

WAYNE TOWNSHIP — Police have identified James John McDonald, 43, of 1052 Main St., Wampum, as a suspect. McDonald threw an iced tea bottle at an unmarked state police cruiser. There have been many reports made to local police about suspects throwing items at other cars while driving down the road. In an Ellwood City Police report, a man reported he was driving down the road when the car in front of him threw an object at his windshield, causing damage to the vehicle. The incidents have been occurring on Wednesdays between the hours of 9 and 11 p.m., police were…

May 17, 2018

Elderly Ellwood City Woman Beaten and Robbed, Man Offers Reward to Help Catch Suspect

An Ellwood City man is offering a reward for information leading to an arrest in his elderly aunt’s beating earlier this year in Lawrence County. Paul Boots found his great aunt, Delida Vicarri, 84,  one early morning last February in terrible shape on the back porch of her Ellwood City home. Vicarri was assaulted and robbed. Initially though, police investigating the case and Vicarri’s family thought that she had taken a bad fall. Her injuries were serious. Boots told media his aunt suffered a broken jaw, broken eye socket, she was kicked in her ribs and her legs were bruised….

May 16, 2018

Traffic Stop Leads to One Arrest and One Citation

Taylor Foley, 21, was placed under arrest by Ellwood City Police for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and Kory Coles, 29, was issued a citation for disorderly conduct after a traffic stop led to a car search and field sobriety test. On May 11, Officers patrolling College St. attempted to make a right hand turn onto Ellwood Ave. and found a car parked at an angle preventing the movement of the cruiser. Officers requested the driver roll down the window. Foley rolled down the window and officers observed a strong marijuana odor from inside the vehicle. Officers…

April 26, 2018

Ellwood City Narcotics Complaint Leads to One Arrested and One at Large

James Hammond Jr., 23, 413 8th St. was charged with manufacturing, delivery or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop at the intersection of College St. and Wampum Ave. According to a police report, Hammond was pulled over on a bench warrant by Ellwood City Police. Police conducted a search of Hammond’s vehicle and seized a baggie of cocaine from his left sock as well as a silver digital weigh scale. After a full body search police located and seized a green Crown Royal bag…

April 25, 2018

Suspected Drug Operation Leads to Ellport Mans Arrest

ELLPORT- Christopher M. Rusnock, 33, of 113 Duncan Ave., is charged with three counts of manufacturing, delivery or possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of children, after wife files a protection abuse order against him. According to a police report, Rusnock’s wife arrived at the Ellwood City Police Department on Friday with a protection abuse order obtained through the Lawrence County Courthouse. Mrs. Rusnock said, her husband had become abusive over the past year and had held a gun to her…