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Police and Fire

September 21, 2017

Line Ave. Resident Facing Child Porn Charges, Freed on Surety Bond

A Line Ave. resident is facing 22 counts of child pornography charges following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to New Castle News, Robert Lee Rogers, 48, of 632 Line Avenue, Ellwood City, was investigated after allegedly downloading images of juvenile girls on his computer. The FBI alerted the district attorney’s office of their findings, prompting a search of Rogers’ laptop computer. Agents discovered additional child pornography images that did not meet parameters established for FBI prosecution and the prosecution was turned over to the local agency. Upon searching Roger’s computer, numerous photos of nude or partially…

September 19, 2017

Criminal Complaints: Man Ironically Held at Gunpoint After Stealing Guns

Man Held at Gunpoint After Stealing Guns According to the criminal complaint, on September 14, officers were sent to a residence in Perry Township for a report of an individual in physical custody by the homeowner for possession of stolen firearms. Upon arrival officers saw Pete Lopez, 42, of New Castle, lying on the ground being secured by the homeowner. Investigation revealed Lopez had stolen firearms from the homeowner while he was staying at the residence off and on for a few weeks with the homeowners daughter. The homeowner suspected Lopez was the thief and had asked him to return…

September 13, 2017

Police Reports: Flagger Assaulted on Fifth Street Bridge

Flagger Assaulted on Fifth Street Bridge According to the police report, on Sept. 11 a flagger was assaulted while working in the construction zone on the Fifth Street Bridge in the early afternoon. Officers were advised of an incident that was occurring at the south end of the bridge. A vehicle was parked, blocking the roadway with the driver and passenger side doors open, resulting in a heavy traffic build up and students unable to cross the road. Several people were yelling at each other and once patrol was able to calm the situation they conducted interviews with witnesses to…

September 6, 2017

New Castle Store Owner Offering Reward for Information on Robbery Suspects

According to Michelle Cioffi’s Facebook post, her business, Puff N Snuff on Croton Ave. was broken into last night with a rock smashed through the front door. “This is what I walked into this morning. A rock through my door and my cigarette racks emptied,” her Facebook post states. “This is why no one wants to bring new businesses and jobs to our community.” She posted security camera photos of the suspects and is offering a reward for anyone who has information on who committed the crime. See photos and Facebook post below.

September 6, 2017

Woman Charged with Endangering Welfare of Children After Incident Involving Marijuana

According to the criminal complaint, Ashley Anne Birchfield, 33, of Ellwood City, is facing charges of endangering the welfare of children after an incident on August 29. On August 29 at approximately 11p.m. officers responded to a complaint that the residents of the apartment were smoking and the smoke was emanating throughout the hallways of the apartment building. Officers knocked on the suspects door and a juvenile answered, leaving the door open while he searched for an adult. Officers observed a cloudy haze throughout the apartment and a strong smell of marijuana. Birchfield was laying down with a juvenile asleep…

August 31, 2017

Police Reports: Gun Found in 2nd Street Business’s Dumpster

Gun Found in 2nd Street Business’s Dumpster According to the police report, on August 28 Ellwood City officers were dispatched to a business on 2nd Street after receiving a call about a gun being discovered in the business’s dumpster. While taking out the trash, two employees noticed a black semi-automatic handgun discarded in the dumpster. They checked the gun to make sure it was not loaded and no magazines were found. The gun had the serial numbers scratched off. One of the employees stated the gun couldn’t have been there more than a couple days because he would have noticed…

August 30, 2017

Hartman Students Evacuate School for Fire Alarm

This morning the students of Hartman were evacuated from the school after a fire scare. According to the Ellwood City Area School District, it was a false alarm caused by the roof project taking place at the school. Firefighters inspected the school and gave the all-clear for students to safely go back in. The roof project is now going to be shut down during the day to avoid further similar issues.

August 28, 2017

Ellwood City Man Smashes Front Window of Main Street Bar & Grill

Ellwood City Man Smashes Front Window of Main Street Bar & Grill According to the criminal complaint, earlier this month police were called for a disturbance near the rear parking lot of Main Street Bar & Grill. Michael David Pounds, 28, of Ellwood City, was among several people involved in an altercation, he appeared intoxicated, had a bloody lip and head, and had a large lump on his left cheek. He was yelling racial slurs and told police an African American male had pulled a gun on him and left. Pounds and several others were leaving whenever he decided to…

August 25, 2017

Ellwood City Joins KidCents Program

Because of the Opioid addiction and overdose deaths impacting every population in the United States throughout all communities and having no boundaries, racial or economic, Lt. David Kingston of Ellwood City Police Department has joined forces with the Rite Aid Foundation/KidCents Program to do Ellwood City’s part in helping to stop this epidemic. Many Law Enforcement agencies, including ECPD participate in the national DEA Drug Take Back Program for residents to dispose of their unused or expired prescription medications. Though the program is great, people wonder what they can do with their unused and/or expired prescriptions until the next Take…

August 23, 2017

Portersville Man Charged with DUI After Hitting School Bus

According to the criminal complaint, on August 4 a Pennsylvania State Trooper was dispatched to a two vehicle crash on State Route 488. Upon arrival it was determined Jason Scott Sunday, 41, of Portersville had crossed into oncoming traffic striking a school bus. The officer detected an alcoholic odor emitting from his persons, to which Sunday denied but admitted to being on Suboxone at the time of the crash. After completing a drug influence evaluation it was determined Sunday was under the influence of both drugs and alcohol and will be facing charges of driving under the influence of both…