Police and Fire

Ellwood City Police Officer Demoted, Suspended, Ordered to Attend Anger Management Classes Following Gas Station Altercation

Ellwood City Borough Council on Monday evening handed down the disciplinary action for a police officer involved in an altercation at the Sheetz in Ellwood City that was captured on video and posted all over social media and the Internet. Council voted unanimously to demote Sergeant Robert Magnifico to patrolman, ordered him to take classes in de-escalation and anger management (approved by Mayor Anthony Court), and suspended him for ten days without pay. Magnifico has been on administrative leave with pay since June 13 and through today, according to Borough Solicitor, Ryan Long. Prior to the vote on the disciplinary…


Ellwood City Police Officer Taking Personal Days During Investigation Following Altercation

An Ellwood City Police Officer is taking personal days following an incident at the Ellwood City Sheetz on Friday, June 6. In a video that has seemingly gone “viral” on Facebook, YouTube, and Reddit, borough police Sgt. Robert Magnifico is shown pushing an unidentified person, who was yelling at Magnifico. A bystander was filming the altercation. Magnifico, during the  39-second video, can be heard yelling, “Understand this, son. I’m not going to put up with your s***. Understand who you’re talking to. I’m not going to put up with your crap. I told you to quit yelling and screaming. You’re…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

RESISTING ARREST: Blake Zeigler, 24, of Ellwood City, is charged with Resisting Arrest, Public Drunkenness, Disorderly Conduct, and Receiving Stolen Property after an incident on March 20th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:27 a.m., police located Zeigler stumbling in and out of the roadway near Haig Street, yelling obscenities, and appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. Upon approach by police Zeigler gave inconsistent statements and continued to shout and harass police and evade approaching officers. While attempting to handcuff Zeigler the officier observed a firearm with cut stock, unsecure and lacking visible ammunition…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

BURGLARY: Jacob Rible, 21, of Ellwood City is charged with burglary on March 18th after Rible and a minor accomplice entered Ellwood City Lincoln High School around 3:30 a.m. Principal Sovich informed police that a few teachers were missing money from their desks, which summed to a total of $1,180. Officers watched back the security footage and identified Rible and a current cyber student. On March 21st, Rible contacted the Lincoln Highschool onsite officer to make payment arrangements for restitution, according to a criminal complaint. RETAIL THEFT: Charles Kriegisch, 26, of Ellwood City is charged with theft after an incident…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

SIMPLE ASSAULT: Richard Newman, 56, of Ellwood City, is charged with Simple Assault after an incident occurring on April 16th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 7:21 p.m., police were dispatched to Laurel Avenue, Wayne Township for reports of a domestic dispute. Officers spoke to Newman’s wife who reported that she and Newman got into verbal argument that turned physical. She stated that Newman pushed her to the ground, and when she rose up, he pushed her head into a window leading to a large raised bump on her forehead according to a the complaint. BURGLARY: Jacob Rible,…


Ellwood City Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison For Coercing Minor to Produce & Send Child Sexual Abuse Material

PITTSBURGH – A former resident of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on April 22, 2025, to 252 months of incarceration, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, on his conviction of coercion and enticement of a minor, and production and receipt of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Shayne A. Clapper, 31. According to information presented to the Court, in January 2023 through February 2023, Clapper initiated a sexual relationship with a minor…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

CRASH REPORT: On April 6th at approximately 2:37 a.m. police were dispatched to Mercer Road where they determined that Kasandra Moon, 26, of Leetsdale, had fallen asleep while driving causing her to hit a utility pole and nearby mail boxes. No injuries were reported according to the crash report. CRASH REPORT: On April 6th at approximately 4:37 p.m. police responded to a report of a vehicle crash along Crescent Drive and determined that Thomas Newman, 35, of Petersburg, had been driving at high speeds and lost control of his vehicle causing him to drive through a fence. Newman fled and…


Officer Involved Shooting in North Sewickley Township

A man was shot and killed by Pennsylvania state police in North Sewickley Township after assaulting and stealing the cruiser of an Ohio state police officer Friday, April 4. According to a state police press release, and at approximately 6:00 p.m., members of the Pennsylvania State Police were notified that an Ohio State Trooper had been assaulted and that the suspect had subsequently stolen the marked police vehicle. It was reported that the stolen vehicle was headed Eastbound on 1-76. Members of the Pennsylvania State Police encountered the vehicle in PA near the Ohio border and a pursuit ensued. Troopers…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

BURGLARY: Sometime between March 30th at approximately 7:00 p.m. and March 31st at approximately 8:00 a.m., an unlocked detached garage on Possum Hollow Road, New Beaver Borough was entered, and stolen from within was approximately 5-10 pounds of copper pipes worth approximately $25-$30. If anyone has any information or could provide surveillance video or suspicious activity within the area, please contact PA State Police at 724-598-2211 and reference PA2025-383336 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT: Dylan Jesse Hinchberger, 31, was charged with one felony count each of aggravated assault, robbery with inflicted injury, vehicle robbery, burglary, theft and firearm possession without a license; and…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

ENDANGERMENT OF A CHILD: Katie Defonde, 39, of Ellwood City, is charged with endangerment of a child after an incident on March 14th. According to a criminal complaint and at approximately 4:22p.m. police were dispatched to Orchard Avenue due to a report of a child found unattended in the street. When police made contact with the caller, he stated that he and his wife had found the approximately one-year-old alone and unsupervised in the street. Navolio also made reference to where he thought the child’s residence was located. When officers arrived at the location and made contact with Defonde, she…