Police and Fire

Wire-tapping in the workplace A Beaver man was accused of recording six coworkers in his office without their knowledge. According to the criminal complaint, on March 8, the victims confronted defendant Thomas Michael Greene, 55, when they heard their voices coming from his pocket. Greene informed police that he had misunderstood advice from his lawyer and was unaware the recorder was playing. He was arraigned before Magistrate Jerry Cartwright and accused of intercepting oral communication with a portable voice recorder. Stealing Cash from Car According to the criminal complaint, Andrew Leon Mercado, 29, of Koppel, is accused of stealing $150…

According to the criminal complaint, in March, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force received intelligence concerning a man referred to as “Flakka,” residing in Beaver Falls. “Flakka” was known to sell heroin from a house on Ellwood Avenue in Ellwood City. On March 23, police made arrangements to purchase $80 worth of heroin from “Flakka,” identified as Michael Alexander James, 22, from Chicago. Following the operation, James was arrested. He was arraigned before Magistrate Jerry Cartwright on May 18 and charged with delivery of controlled substances and possession of controlled substances. He was placed in the Lawrence County Jail after…

Brother and Sister Rob Laundromat A brother and sister were charged with stealing from a laundromat. According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 30, 2015, Desiree Elizabeth McQuiston, 28, of Beaver Falls and Joshua Raymond McQuiston, 29, of Fombell, stole money from vending machines and washing machines at Snowy White Laundry on Portersville Road in Ellport. Investigating officers watched security camera footage which showed a female and male enter the building around 11:30 p.m. The two proceeded to smash machines to steal the money until around midnight. An investigation identified the suspects as the McQuiston siblings. They were charged with…

Man Assaults Man and Damages Car According to the criminal complaint, Richard C. Myers, 39, of Ellport, assaulted a man and damaged his car during an accident on April 15 at approximately 4:30 p.m. The victim testified that he had driven to a residence in Ellport to drop his son’s bicycle off. Myers, the victim’s ex-wife’s boyfriend, subsequently punched him through the open window of the driver’s seat, knocking his glasses off. The victim exited the car to retrieve his glasses and was further assaulted by Myers, causing damage to the vehicle. The victim left the scene and informed police….

Stealing Prescription Pills from a Garbage Bin According to the criminal complaint, on April 12 at approximately 8 p.m., an officer pulled over a vehicle for an expired registration. The operator was cited. The investigating officer asked the passenger, Edward Allen Laurain, Jr., 45, of Ellwood City, for permission to search a backpack. The officer discovered a prescription bottle for oxycodone prescribed to somebody who wasn’t Laruain and containing three Percocets and one Acetaminophen and Oxycodone. Laurain admitted to finding the bottle in a garbage bin. Laurain was charged with two counts of possession of controlled substances. Driving Under the…

A New Castle man was apprehended by Ellwood City police after an extended car chase Saturday night from Ellwood to the Zelienople Airport. Wesley Jay Cox, 34, of New Castle, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, fleeing police, reckless endangerment, accident causing damage to property, driving while suspended and reckless driving. The incident began around 9 p.m. on April 16 when an officer observed a Nissan Altima traveling in the vicinity of Plum Way and Spring Avenue. Because of reports of narcotics activity in the area, the officer followed the vehicle and ran a…