Police and Fire

Police: Man Assaults Ex-Girlfriend; DUI Leads to Rear-Ending

DUI Leads to Rear-Ending Two Vehicles According to a criminal complaint, on Oct. 16 around 5 p.m., Amber Servick, 33, of New Castle, rear ended two vehicles stopped at red lights at intersections on Sixth and Fifth Streets. Both struck vehicles suffered minor damage. Investigating officers determined that Servick was intoxicated. She was charged with two count of driving under the influence and one count of causing damage to a vehicle. Harmony Resident Attacks and Steals from Ex-Girlfriend According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 12 around 12:30 a.m., Ellwood police responded to a domestic disturbance call on Center Ave….


Police: Theft of $65,000 from Ellport Residence

Theft An Ellport woman stole over $65,000 from her mother, according to police reports. On September 10, 2015, Jeanette Mathas, of Ellport, reported a theft from her house. Mathas stated that she had been in the hospital for the past two months. When she returned, she found that approximately $65,000 she had hidden was missing. Mathas stated that her daughter, Brenda Anthony, was the only person with access to the house. A witness provided pictures of Anthony with the money. Another witness reported that Anthony had recently bought all new furniture for the house she was residing in. On September…


Police: Theft and Driving on Wrong Side of Road

Theft According to the police report, Ellwood City Power and Light reported a theft on Oct. 12. Investigating officers were informed that the theft occurred between Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. and Oct. 12 at 8:30 a.m. The chain link fence had been cut open and three electric transformers, valued at $15 each, were stolen. Investigation ongoing. Theft Rocco Ierino reported a stolen lawn mower from his property on Division Avenue on Oct. 11 around 4:40 p.m. According to the police report, Ierino was working on his property on Division Avenue. He placed his lawnmower on the sidewalk and went…


Police: Theft and Drug Possession

Stolen Items According to the police report, on April 11, 2015, Vincent Delboverlando, 18, of Ellwood City, stole an air rifle, valued at $400, from Robert Shaffer. On July 17, Delboverlando made arrangements to sell back the air rifle for $100 in the 7-Eleven parking lot on 201 North St. An undercover office accompanied Shaffer and arrested Delboverlando following the transaction. Delboverlando was charged with theft on Oct. 1. Drug Possession According to the police report, on Aug. 23 around 8:45 p.m., a state police officer arrived to a residence on Elm Lane, New Beaver Borough, in a response to…


Police: Fentanyl-Laced Heroin Confirmed in February Overdose Death

Police confirmed that an overdose death in February was caused by fentanyl-laced heroin. Since December, there have been five overdose deaths in the Ellwood Borough. One in December was from opiates, probably oxycodone. In addition to the laced-heroin, another overdose in February was from pharmaceuticals. Also in February, an overdose in North Sewickley Township was caused by a fentanyl patch. The cause of the two overdoses in April are still pending lab results. Lt. David Kingston, ranking police officer, said that overdoses from fentanyl have occurred in Ellwood before, but fentanyl-laced heroin is rare to the area. “Opiates aren’t as…


Police to Start Issuing Citations for Route 351/River Road Stop Sign

Did you notice the Koppel bridge stop sign changed? If you didn’t, don’t feel bad. According to North Sewickley Police Chief Jeff Becze, drivers have had a hard time adjusting to the revised sign. The North Sewickley Police Department has been forgiving of offending drivers for now as people acclimate to the change. However, Becze said that will soon change and citations will be issued for violations. The intersection is at Route 351 and River Road, near the Koppel Bridge. Formerly, the stop sign only applied to traffic driving straight on River Road. Drivers turning right on 351 toward the…


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Police: Twelve Cited, One Arrested for Underage Drinking

An officer was dispatched to Second Street at 3 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8 to investigate a noise complaint. According to the police report, tenant John Lucchessi, 20, greeted the officer and allowed him inside. The officer found numerous intoxicated underage guests and called for assistance. Investigating officers rounded up suspects from the second and third floor and an attic crawlspace. Officers also confiscated marijuana and drug paraphernalia. A K-9 unit was called in and discovered Thomas Maine, 20, of Ellwood City, hiding under debris in the crawl space. Lucchessi admitted to supplying the drugs and alcohol and was arrested,…


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Police: Three Juveniles Charged for Vandalism

The Ellwood City Police arrested three juveniles on Friday regarding the recent string of vandalism acts throughout the Borough. The 14, 15 and 16-year-old males will be charged for the following incidents: Nov. 20/21 – The building located at 231 Fifth St. had its display windows smashed with rocks. The building owner is Joe Morabito. Nov. 20/21 – A 2006 Ford Taurus owned by Herman Feldman was damaged while parked in front of his office at 228 Fifth Street. Nov. 29 – The building owned by Morabito located at 231 Fifth St. had its windows again damaged by rocks. Dec….


Police Arrest Area Residents Operating North Side Meth Lab

Ellwood City Police were led by an anonymous tip to a house in the North Side neighborhood on Thursday leading to the arrest of two residents who were operating an “extremely dangerous and fully functional” methamphetamine laboratory inside a home. Reports said the house had no electricity and was later found to have lanterns and large amounts of kerosene inside. Richard Brian Lumley, 43, of 332 Orchard Ave. and Timothy Bill Locke, 32, of 4446 Hollow Road, Wayne Township were arrested and arraigned on charges related to operating a meth lab. After the search and arrest of the suspects, police…


Formal Arraignment Scheduled for Alleged Killer

Keith Wolfrey, the 23-year-old Boyertown native and Ellwood City resident charged in the killing of his girlfriend Joie Lordi, will stand trial, but before that, the next step of the criminal procedure in Pennsylvania must take place. Scheduled for the morning of Sept. 7 before Judge Dominick Motto in the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas, the formal arraignment will be held. This arraignment typically occurs about 30 to 60 days following the preliminary hearing. The defendant is given a copy of the information sheet and advised of his/her rights. Although called a “formal” arraignment, the procedure is quite informal….