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Police and Fire

December 29, 2017

Bonus: Top Five Police Reports for 2017

Along with part one and two of our annual top-ten articles for the year series, we had a lot of views on our police reports this year so we decided to tally up the top five and do a bonus round: Easter Sunday Shooter Suspected in Western Pennsylvania Steven Stephens of Cleveland, Ohio, fled the state and entered Pennsylvania to flee from police after fatally shooting a pedestrian at random on Easter Sunday. Shortly after, Stephens’ body was found in his vehicle after he had committed suicide. Attempted Robbery at Lawrence Ave. Wesbanco The suspect, who is still at large,…

December 27, 2017

GoFundMe for Murdered Franklin Township Man’s Funeral

Franklin Township resident, Alan Patterson, was murdered Christmas Eve – the day before Christmas and his birthday – after a dispute with his wife. According to reports, Patterson was stabbed to death outside of his trailer in Franklin Township by his wife, Krystine, who then tried to flee the scene by foot but was later caught at a neighboring trailer. Patterson’s family has since arranged a GoFundMe page to not only help with funeral costs, but also to help support the family in this time of need. Patterson leaves behind children, grandchildren, and brothers and sisters. Click the post below…

December 18, 2017

Bizarre Post Appears on Local Craigslist Pet Classifieds

A post, which has been shared in several local pet advocacy groups in the local area has many pet-parents concerned. The post, which was published on the Akron-Canton Ohio area pets community by an anonymous poster, is below along with more information. Craigslist is a web platform where users can anonymously post in the forums and classifieds to keep their identities safe while connecting with the community; unfortunately some people take advantage of the lax site-moderation, resulting in offensive and alarming posts like this. The post has since been taken down, most likely because it was flagged by users as…

December 14, 2017

Ellwood City Man Faces Charges After Attempted Assault with Knife

Travis Ford Bates, 26, of River Road, is facing charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment after an incident late last month. According to the criminal complaint, Bates was accused by his mother and her boyfriend of attempted assault with a knife after an argument about money. The mother stated that Bates had entered her bedroom while she was lying in bed and started yelling and making advances towards the couple with the knife. The couple were able to restrain Bates before any bodily injury occurred. Bates admitted to taking a kitchen knife and using it in…

December 8, 2017

VIDEO: 85 Year Old Ellport Man Shoots, Kills Home Invader

According to WPXI, early this morning around 1:30a.m., 85-year-old Ellport resident, Don Lutz came face to face with two intruders inside his home on Jamison Avenue. After a brief altercation with the two men, Lutz shot one of them with the gun he keeps under his pillow. Quoting the WPXI article: “I just fired one. It was in the dark. He attacked me and he was up close and I shot him,” Lutz said. “They jumped me and we both went on the floor. I scuffled with them on the floor and the one guy rolled over dead and the…

December 7, 2017

UPDATED W/ VIDEO: Ellwood Man Wanted for Rape and Assault of Elderly Woman

According to a news article posted today by New Castle News, 21-year-old Devin James Myers, of 2 Fifth Street, Apt. 4, Ellwood City, is wanted on a warrant for the alleged beating and rape of a 66-year-old-woman. After following a 2 1/2 year investigation the Ellwood City police have charged Myers, who was 18 at the time, in connection with an alleged break-in of the woman’s residence early in the morning on April 5, 2015. Police said the woman had suffered injuries that at the time were life-threatening. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the Ellwood City police…

December 7, 2017

BREAKING: Accident on Route 65

Your morning commute may be slowed down if you plan on taking Route 65 near Mercer Road. There are several police, firemen and paramedics on the scene currently. An officer is directing the oncoming traffic into the opposing lane. Not much is known about the accident at this time. We will update the post when more information becomes available.

December 4, 2017

Criminal Complaints: Fombell Man Eludes Officers in High Speed Chase

Fombell Man Eludes Officers in High Speed Chase Ryan Patrick Kelosky, 24, of Fombell, is facing charges of fleeing an officer and reckless driving after an incident occurred late last month. According to the criminal complaint, officers observed Kelosky stop at a green light then peel out at the intersection of Fountain Avenue and Second Street. While the officer was attempting to stop the vehicle, Kelosky sped up over 100mph around the 100 block of Portersville Road until the officer was no longer able to see the vehicle. The officer ran the plates and was able to get in contact…

November 29, 2017

Criminal Complaints: Ellwood City Man Facing Felony Theft Charges

Ellwood City Man Facing Felony Theft Charges James Allen Sawyers, 26, of Ellwood City, is facing one felony count of theft by unlawful taking and one felony count of receiving stolen property after stealing a jewelry box full of miscellaneous jewelry from a local household. According to the complaint, the resident of the household was unwell for several months and had to have caregivers in and out of the residence often. The homeowner had noticed the jewelry box missing after one of the caregivers had brought their son, who would sometimes cut the grass of the property until his services…

November 27, 2017

Newborn’s Body Found Under Porch of Home on Ellwood Road

Brittany Robinson, 23, of Shenango Township is facing charges of homicide, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the death of a child after the body of her newborn was found hidden under the porch of a home on Ellwood Road. The owner of a home in the 3200 block on Ellwood Road called the police on Sunday, who then found the infant’s body hidden in a crawlspace outside. Reportedly the child was wrapped in a T-shirt when found. Police say the boy was viable and full-term and weighing approximately seven pounds and investigators believe the baby was born…