Police and Fire

POLICE: Local Narcotics Raid Leads To Arrest

On January 30th, 2025, members of the Lawrence County District Attorney’s HIDTA Drug Task Force, the Ellwood City Police Department, and the Lawrence County Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) executed a search warrant at 306 Wood Street, Ellwood City. Operation “The Issue is Smoot” began at approximately 6:10 a.m. when CIRT knocked and announced their presence. Once no contact was made at the front door, entry was made. CIRT secured the residence, locating and detaining one female. The target of the investigation, 26-year-old Aubrey Quillan Smoot, was not present at the residence. As a result of the search, the following…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

HARASS PHYSICAL CONTACT: Brandon Falen, 50, of Ellwood City, is charged with physical harassment after an incident occurring on January 20th at a residence on Laurel Avenue in Wayne Township. According to a police report, and at approximately 7:34 p.m., police were dispatched to an active domestic involving Falen and his 24-year-old daughter and 22-year-old son. According to the report, Falen had struck his daughter and son with a broom and a hammer which caused minor injuries. Falen was placed under arrest and taken to a nearby hospital for a mental health assessment due to him formally stating he wanted…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

SIMPLE ASSAULT: Michael Fabich, 57, of Wampum is charged with Simple Assault after an incident occurring on January 2nd. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 8:56 p.m., police were dispatched to the Fabich residence on Eliza Street and when they made contact with the victim, Fabich’s wife, she explained that Michael Fabich was woken up by his father and Michael got angry taking it out on her. Police asked Mrs. Fabich if she would like to pursue any actions, or put a PFA on Fabich, but she denied any action the report relates. SIMPLE ASSAULT: Jarid Smith, 42,…


ECASD To Conduct Emergency Drill Training On Monday

The Ellwood City Area School District will conduct emergency drill training on Monday, January 20th, at Hartman Elementary School. Please note that there will be no classes for Ellwood students on this day, as it is an Act 80 day dedicated to providing security training for all district personnel. During this time, the community will see a significant presence of emergency vehicles and first responders at both Lincoln Jr Sr High School and Hartman Elementary from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Law enforcement, fire, and emergency services will be working alongside our staff to test response and recovery during various…


Fire Engulfs Beaver County Restaurant Thursday Night

Local dispatchers and news outlets reported a devastating blaze engulfing Giuseppe’s Tuscany Grill in Beaver County Thursday night. Fire departments were called to Giuseppe’s Tuscany Grill on Big Beaver Boulevard in Homewood Borough at 9:25 p.m. A fire chief told news outlets that the owner had left the restaurant about an hour before they received the call about the fire. “We did stop it from going into the dining hall area,’ Beaver Falls Fire Chief Mark Stowe told WPXI Thursday night. “The fire was all in the bar area and the kitchen area when we got on scene with heavy…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

CRASH: On December 23rd at approximately 5:48p.m. a crash occurred on Ellwood Road. Unit 3 slowed down to pull into their driveway on Ellwood Road and Unit 2 slowed to wait for Unit 3, but was rear-ended by Unit 1, which caused Unit 2 rear-end Unit 3. Unit 1 and 2 sustained severe damage and were unable to be driven from the scene and had to be towed. Operator’s 2 and 3 sustained injuries and were transported via EMS to a nearby hospital. CRASH: On December 22nd at approximately 9:14a.m. a crash occurred on Glenkirk Rd, New Beaver Borough. Unit…


Two Lawrence County Residents Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Puerto Rico-to-Western PA Drug Trafficking Operation

Two residents of New Castle, Pennsylvania, were sentenced in federal court on December 18, 2024, for their convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and related charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced last week. The New Castle defendants were among 17 individuals from Lawrence County that included four individuals from Ellwood City that were indicted in March 2024 for violating federal narcotics, firearms, and racketeering laws by conspiring to distribute cocaine throughout Western Pennsylvania and Youngstown (read the Indictment news release here). Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentences…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

PUBLIC REPRIMAND: An Ellwood City nail salon was fined and given a public reprimand by the Pennsylvania Department of State for what it called grossly incompetent actions. Nails Spa, located in the Northern Star shopping plaza on Route 288 in Franklin Township, was given a $6,600 civil penalty and ordered to stop possessing methyl methacrylate (MMA) and metal credo tools. MMA is a resin commonly used in artificial nail products, dentistry and the production of plastics. Credo tools are used to remove callused skin. The violations were cited in the agency’s latest disciplinary actions. An investigation also said the salon…


Vehicle Stolen From West End Home, Police Searching For Suspect

On Friday, November 22nd at approximately 11:20 p.m. Ellwood City Police officers were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident in the 1200 block of Lawrence Avenue. Upon further investigation it was determined that an unknown actor broke into a residence, took a set of keys to a vehicle then stole the vehicle crashing it into another vehicle then fleeing the scene on foot. Officers further located multiple other vehicles that seemed to be rummaged through in the area. According to the ECPD and its social media post, it is believed that the actor was breaking into multiple vehicles between 10:30…


POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

THEFT: Tyler Good, 24, of Cranberry Twp is charged with Theft after an incident occurring during the dates of 5/23/24 and 6/30/24. According to a criminal complaint, police spoke to the victim on September 19th at approximately 12:37 p.m. and the victim explained that he contracted Good to replace his retaining wall and that they had come to an agreement to have the wall finished within five days. The victim paid Good $9,400 for materials to begin the job on May 23rd and an additional $3,600 on June 5th after Good would finish. Good had failed to complete the job…