Police and Fire

New Years Public Drunkenness According to the police report, Ellwood officers were requested by the Wampum Police to assist with a publicly drunk female on Jan. 1, 2017. By the time the officers had arrived the Wampum Police had Jody Vankirk, 41, of New Castle, who was inappropriately dressed, detained. Vankirk was being “extremely out of control and intoxicated” while at the station. After she was released officers were called again in regards to the woman damaging items at a friends house and throwing things into the street. Vankirk is being cited with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.   DUI…

Fight Breaks Out After Wife is Called a “Fat Rhino” According to the police report, on Dec. 22, police were dispatched to 5th St. for a fight in progress. A physical fight had broken out between Carl Claypoole, 20, and a juvenile family member after the teen had called Claypoole’s wife a “fat rhino.” Claypoole had an active bench warrant in Mercer County and was advised to turn himself in to Mercer County authorities. Both males were cited for disorderly conduct.   Woman Uses Fake Identity to Receive Narcotics According to the police report, on Dec. 20, officers were dispatched…

Many people are left questioning how one Monaca man could mistake a horse for a deer – ultimately shooting and killing the beloved pet, valued at $16,000, named Stella. According to the police report, Jordan G. Cinderich, 23, of Monaca PA., was out hunting with his brother and group of friends on December 10, in New Sewickley Township, when he claims he spotted a herd of deer on a nearby hillside and took a shot. The startled and injured target galloped away, which Cinderich thought was abnormal behavior for a deer, prompting him to locate the animal carcass, where he…

Stolen Vehicle Sold to Unsuspecting Local A warrant for the arrest of Andrew Leroy Mercado, 29, of Koppel, has been filed after he sold a vehicle that belonged to Linda Boots. According to the criminal complaint, on Dec. 8, the buyer of the vehicle came to the police station to report an issue he was having with the seller of the 1998 Toyota Avalon he had purchased two days earlier. After the victim had seen the vehicle, which had no registration plate, the back seat was ripped out, and the steering column was disassembled, he purchased it from the Mercado…

This morning, I-376, one of the most commonly traveled routes in the area, was closed while helicopters and police were investigating an incident. Shawn Hobel, 34, of Ellwood City was shot by police officials and is undergoing surgery after leading several Lawrence County police departments on a chase. According to reports, the chase started around 3:30a.m., when Hobel -who had a woman passenger in the car- did not stop for Shenango Township officers attempting to pull him over for a traffic violation. The chase finally came to a halt on I-376 in Union Township after Hobel managed to lead officers from…

After an incident occurred last month, Zachary Franklin Pounds, 20, of Fox Street is facing felony charges. Pounds and his older brother, Joseph, caused a disturbance at Weisz’s Hazel Manor, resulting in a man needing to be life flown to a Pittsburgh hospital. The two brothers were ordering food when Zachary walked up to a man and started yelling profound racial slurs, punching the man and striking him over the head with a beer bottle, the victim was knocked on the ground. During the altercation, Zachary managed to stab the victim in the arm, resulting in a three-layer deep gash…

Thousands of Dollars Worth of Opiate Medications Stolen According to the police report, on Dec. 5, a man came to the police station to report that his medication had been stolen from of the passenger seat of his car while he was inside Rite Aid getting an energy drink and cigarettes. The man claimed he was no longer than 10 minuets in the store and he had four newly filled prescriptions laying on the front seat. The stolen medication was two scripts of Oxymorphone, 20mg tablets with each bottle holding 60 pills, street value at $20 per pill, and the…

Meth Lab Discovered in Ellwood According to the criminal complaint, on November 23 officers were dispatched to Smokin Dave’s Barbecue in reference to the owner having three suspicious persons exit a vehicle and walk toward railroad property carrying assorted bags. The officer made contact with one of the individuals, April Squires, 34, of Summit Ave., who was walking away from several of the bags left in the alleyway of North and Franklin, and asked her what was going on. She stated that she had got a ride from the other two individuals and she was now walking home. The officer…

Many Ellwood residents have reported receiving a phone call from a gentleman asking for donations to the “Ellwood City Police Department Holiday Fund.” Mayor Court warns “do not give money to this caller, this is 100% a scam. There is absolutely no such charity for the Ellwood City Police Department and the Police Department would not ask for donations over the phone.” The scammer has even offered to meet in person to receive donations. Anyone who receives a call like this is encouraged to report it immediately to authorities. As of now, there are no leads to who the scammer…