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Police and Fire

August 9, 2017

BREAKING: Accident Involving Semi-Truck on Lawrence Ave

A FedEx truck collided with an SUV on Lawrence Avenue at approximately 9a.m. Police, firefighters and paramedics are at the scene. Updates to follow. UPDATE: Reports are stating the driver of the SUV ran the red light at the intersection of Sixth Street and Lawrence Avenue where she was then hit on the drivers side by the truck, causing significant damage to the drivers side doors. The SUV driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. She did not have any other passengers.  

August 9, 2017

Troopers, BC3 Police Investigate After Private Cadaver Dogs’ Alert on Campus

Butler, PA- An investigation by state police at Butler and Butler County Community College campus police continued Tuesday morning in a wooded portion of BC3’s main campus in Butler Township, where private cadaver dogs last weekend reportedly alerted handlers when approaching a mound of construction debris. Investigators processed the scene, according to Scott Richardson, BC3’s director of campus police and security. There did not appear to be recent activity near the construction debris, Richardson said Monday. He described the area as being dense with excessive vegetation overgrowth and having no adjacent walking trails. Although on college property, the site that…

August 4, 2017

BREAKING: Attempted Robbery at Lawrence Ave. Wesbanco

Ellwood City Police are requesting your help locating the attempted robbery suspect. The attempted robber entered the bank this afternoon at approximately 2:52pm and presented a note a the teller window before fleeing. The suspect is an African American Male, approximately 5’10”, mid 20’s, athletic build.  He was last seen leaving the bank on foot, wearing a blue t-shirt, jean shorts, high-top white socks, and a blue hat. If anyone can identify the suspect in the photograph, please contact the Lawrence County 911 Center at 724-656-9300. 7:00pm UPDATE: According to a local news source, the suspect presented a note that…

August 3, 2017

Mayor Meets with Residents on National Community Night Out

On Tuesday, August 1, 2017 Mayor Anthony J. Court and Lt. David Kingston of the Ellwood City Police Department participated in “The National Community Night Out” meeting and greeting residents throughout Ellwood City. The Mayor stated that both were well received by the community and they enjoyed the one on one with the residents, letting them know that they will continue to stamp out crime in the city. This National Community Night Out is done in conjunction with the Mayor’s Crime Watch Program. The Crime Watch Program is now in its 10th Year and has been a huge success in…

July 31, 2017

32 Year-Old Accused of Sexually Assaulting Young Boy in Chippewa Walmart Bathroom

According to KDKA News, Adam Michael Tatusko, 32, of West Mayfield is facing a number of charges, including indecent assault and corruption of minors after sexually assaulting a young boy in the bathroom of the Chippewa Walmart last Tuesday. Reports state that Tatusko followed the young boy into the bathroom, waited until no one else was in the bathroom, and used a “Doctor Who wand,” claiming it was a taser, to force the child into a stall and take his clothes off. The assault ended after the boy’s father went into the restroom and called for his son, who ignored Tatusko’s…

July 27, 2017

Phone Scammers Target Posies by Patti

Local Ellwood business, Posies by Patti updated their Facebook page with a warning to their customers: “SCAM ALERT!! SCAM ALERT!! It has come to our attention that our BUSINESS NAME and possibly our PHONE NUMBER is being used in a SCAM. Caller ID will show POSIES BY PATTI but it will be a scammer. Please DO NOT give out any personal information or agree to anything the scammers ask. They are trying to get your information for their use. If you get any phone calls from Posies by Patti, HANG UP IMMEDIATELY and please feel free to call us to…

July 25, 2017

Slippery Rock Man Admits to Possession of Methamphetamine

Frank Joseph Stone, 30, of Slippery Rock is facing charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while operating privilege is suspended. According to the criminal complaint, on June 30, the Ellwood City Police Department was called for an erratic driver coming into Ellwood City through a construction zone. Reports were stating the vehicle was all over the road and had pulled over at a local restaurant. Officers made contact with the vehicle, knocking on the driver side window startling the driver identified as Stone. Stone quickly put his hands…

July 21, 2017

FIRE VIDEO: ‘The House is a Total Loss’

The Ellwood City Fire Department responded “almost immediately” to a fire on the 100 block of Orchard Avenue Thursday evening. “We actually had a truck up the road for a separate call when the fire broke out. Some neighbors ran up to the truck and said 130 was on fire – so we responded almost immediately,” Ellwood City Fire Chief, Rick Meyers stated. Despite the fast action, due to the layout of the property it was difficult for the responding departments to get to the center of the fire – which they believe started in the kitchen/dining room area. The…

July 19, 2017

Erratic Driver Accused of Threatening to Shoot Local Family

Updated at 2:10p.m. 7/19 Erik Sobel is facing charges of disorderly conduct and reckless driving after an incident that occurred on the evening of July 12. According to the police report, officers observed Sobel driving at a high rate of speed and erratically through the town trying to get the officers attention. Multiple complaints came in about Sobel’s driving and that he was threatening the Pounds and Johnsons. Officers could hear the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed through town and they observed him speeding on Lawrence Ave., as he pulled his emergency brake and slid into the…

July 12, 2017

Police Reports: Shots Fired This Morning on 13th Street

Shots Fired This Morning on 13th Street According to the police report, this morning around 3a.m. police were dispatched to the Pounds residence on 13th Street for a shots fired call. Dispatch gave a description of a white SUV with a loud muffler who shot at the compound. Three neighbors described the vehicle and said the vehicle was stopped in the street and a male was outside walking around when he fired three shots towards the residence, he then tried to get back into the car but the door would not open so he had to hang on to the…