Police and Fire

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…

Women Assaults Man with Knife Devon Rand Crocker, 23, of Ellwood City, was accused of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children for an incident on April 3. According to the criminal complaint, officers responded to a domestic situation on Franklin Avenue at approximately 7:30 p.m. Investigating officers made contact with the victim, Crocker’s boyfriend, in the hallway of a second floor apartment. He reported that following a verbal altercation lasting several hours, Crocker attacked her mother and him with a knife. The victim was able to disarm Crocker, but was bitten repeatedly. These actions occurred in the presence…

Simple Assault on Easter According to the criminal complaint, on March 27, police responded to a domestic dispute on Possum Hollow Road in New Beaver Borough. The accused, Candace Lane Freed, 56, got into an argument with the victim, her boyfriend. The argument escalated until it erupted into physical violence. Freed struck the victim several times around his head and neck. This fight would end up causing part of their Easter Dinner to fall on the ground. Freed was charged with simple assault and harassment. Intoxicated Man Waits for Cheeseburger that Was Never Ordered According to the criminal complaint, investigating…

The Lawrence County Drug Task Force recently arrested an Ellwood City mother and son cocaine-dealing duo. Michael Mario Viccari, 26, and Darlene Cragle, 57, both of Ellwood City, were arraigned on Tuesday by Magistrate Jerry Cartwright following a several month investigation. Police were informed the duo was dealing drugs from 216 Buckeye Way. In a pre-planned operation on Oct. 15, Viccari sold 2.3 grams of cocaine for $80 to an informant. Again, on January 13, an informant was sent with $80 to purchase cocaine from Viccari. However, as Vicarri wasn’t home, Cragle made the exchange. Both were placed in the…