Recent Stories

Police and Fire

February 14, 2018

Police Standoff At Home Off Mercer Road [Updated Feb. 16]

  SWAT officers surrounded a home off Mercer Road in Franklin Township Wednesday morning in a standoff that lasted three hours. According to reports, police and SWAT officers were on site at the Franklin Township residence where a male was inside the home with a gun before the standoff eventually led him into police custody. As a result of the police presence and locale, Riverside School District issued a lockdown with parents and guardians receiving automated phone calls. Investigators haven’t said why they were originally called to the home or why the standoff ensued.  No one was injured.  More information…

February 14, 2018

POLICE: Union Township Man Leads Police On Chase

According to reports, Ellwood City Police have charged Gary Joseph Rakoci Jr., 26, of Union Township, after he allegedly fled from police in his vehicle and on foot, around 3:00am Saturday while he allegedly was driving drunk. According to a criminal complaint filed by Ellwood City police, an officer driving an unmarked patrol car was southbound on Seventh Street when he saw a gray Jeep go through an intersection at Crescent Avenue at high speed, and it turned north, failing to stop at a stop sign. After observing a gray Jeep go through an intersection at Crescent Avenue at high speed,…

January 24, 2018

Beaver Falls Man Facing Rape Charges Walks Free After Posting Bond

Richard Holewski Jr., 48, of 3913 College Ave., Beaver Falls, who appears to be a family man on social media, is facing charges of rape, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault and corruption of minors, after police said he sexually assaulted a child over the course of about 13 years. According to reports, Holewski’s assault streak started when the girl was only 7 years old, lasting into the victim’s adult years and escalating when she was in her teens. Holewski was able to rape the victim in her North Sewickley home while her…

January 23, 2018

BREAKING: Fire Alarm Issue, Lincoln Students Sent Home Early

Lincoln High students are being sent home early today due to a fire alarm issue, the official statement is below: School Superintendent Joe Mancini stated: “During a routine monthly fire drill at Lincoln, it was discovered that half of the alarms, pulls and detectors were not functioning properly.  The alarm company was notified and sent a supervisor.  During his research, a short was discovered in the system for a certain area of the building.  Locating the short in the system could take some time without technicians.  It was decided at this time to close Lincoln for safety reasons.  At 11:30,…

January 22, 2018

Criminal Complaints: Domestic Disputes

Several Ellwood residents are facing charges after separate domestic dispute cases were reported this month: Steven Glen Ramsey, 32, of Ellwood City, is facing charges of prohibited acts, terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment after he had gotten into a physical argument with his girlfriend. The argument escalated when Ramsey pulled out a knife and held it to her throat, telling her that she needed to tell the truth or one of them was going to die. The victim had a visible mark from the altercation on her face. Christopher David Bell-Kline, 22, of Ellwood City, is facing charges of…

January 16, 2018

Ellwood Resident Busted for Heroin Distribution

On January 12, Ellwood City officers served a search warrant at 806 Pershing St., a residence suspected of selling narcotics related to several overdose investigations. Officers of the Ellwood City Police Department were aware of the resident there, 27-year-old Samantha Sutherland, and drug dealing activities. Officers conducting the search were assisted by the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Drug Task, which Ellwood City Officers are member of. Numerous items related to the packaging and distribution of narcotics were found, including approximately 3.5 grams of suspected heroin. Earlier in the day, officers conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle in which heroin…

January 13, 2018

VIDEO: Family Rescued From Home Surrounded By Floodwaters

WPXI.com – Fire and rescue teams rushed to LouAnne Cornelius’s Beaver County home near Ellwood City Friday as floodwaters from the nearby Connoquenessing Creek crept closer. Earlier in the evening, WPXI reporter Mike Holden had posted a video of his commute to Ellwood City on Twitter and later stated he and his driver were parking in a local lot waiting for fire crews to respond to their next call. En route to Ellwood City. Big changeover. Rain has turned to ice. @WPXI pic.twitter.com/0Rwg7pjJNu — Mike Holden (@WPXIMikeHolden) January 12, 2018 Perhaps the rising levels of the Connoquenessing River and pending snowfall Friday…

January 11, 2018

VIDEO: Parents Concerned Over Rochester Security Issue

Parents of children attending the Rochester Area School District were shocked to receive a “security issue” letter yesterday from the school district’s superintendent, Jane Bovalino. The letter reads: “Dear Parents of the Rochester Area School District: This morning an incident occurred at security as our elementary students were entering the building. Our security officers notified the administration of their concerns and the individual was escorted from the building. As this is a personnel issue, we are not at liberty to disclose additional information. The safety of your children and our staff is always our number one concern.” Many of the…

December 29, 2017

VIDEO: ECPD Looking for Armed Robbery Suspect

The Ellwood City Police Department is looking for an armed robber, according to a post on their Facebook. They have since uploaded security footage video to the page showing the thief shying away from the camera and taking money from the cash register. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the station.

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,…