Police and Fire

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…

Woman Assaults Woman According to the criminal complaint, on Thursday, March 17, at 4 a.m. , officers were dispatched to a Fifth Street apartment for a domestic disturbance. When the officers arrived they could hear screaming coming from the upstairs apartment. Officers entered the apartment and made contact with the victim and the defendant, Melissa Star Sabo, 35. When questioned, Sabo stated that they merely arguing. However, the victim stated that Sabo had harassed and threatened her. She also said that Sabo had  slammed her by the neck onto the bed and began choking her. The victim stated that she…

Burger King Employee Steals $150 by Writing Two Bank Deposits A Beaver Falls woman was accused of stealing $150 from Burger King on Lawrence Avenue. According to the criminal complaint filed on March 7, Christy Marie Landles, 24, stole the money as an employee while making a night deposit to PNC bank. Burger King cameras from Feb. 16 show Landles preparing a deposit of $764.15 but PNC records show a deposit of $614.15. By using PNC records and watching further store film, it was discovered that Landles had placed the original deposit bag in a safe for two hours, removed…

Aggravated Assault A New Brighton man was accused of aggravated assault following an incident in Ellwood City last week. Prior to this, Justin M Bryant, 27, was charged with criminal mischief for an incident occurring on Feb. 25. The victim advised police that Bryant was in her apartment destroying items. Investigating officers observed a smashed girls’ play house, a damaged sweeper, a damaged bookshelf and two holes in the wall. The victim reported Byrant hadn’t hurt her today but had done so in the past. Police confiscated a glass marijuana pipe belonging to Bryant. The defendant agreed to pay for…

K-9 Team Assists in Drug Bust The Ellwood City K-9 team assisted in the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force in an arrest on Pittsburgh Circle on Jan. 25.  According to a criminal complaint filed on Feb. 24, the K-9 team assisted in the arrest of Amanda Hasan and Tim Wilkes, who were wanted for heroin dealing. In addition, the K-9 team confiscated several items in the residence, including a baggie containing 7 grams of cocaine and about 50 white pills from Wilkes’ room. The K-9 team also discovered baggies of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia belonging to Korrie Asif…

Methadone-Influenced Driver Causes Accident According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 10 at approximately 8:30 a.m., a vehicle traveling west on Lawrence Avenue failed to stop at a stop sign and hit a vehicle traveling south on Fourth Street. Investigating officers identified the driver as Luke Garrett Hogue, 29, of New Castle, who admitted to having recently left a methadone clinic. Hogue was charged with failing to stop at a stop sign and following a blood test, was charged with two counts of DUI. Retail Theft According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 16 at approximately 12:21 a.m., officers responded…

Employee Steals Money Over Three Month Period A Beaver Falls man was accused of stealing $1,499.56 from B&B Express on 324 Lawrence Ave. According to the criminal complain, James Kosto, as an employee of B&B, would pretend to place money in the cash register during customer transactions but would actually place the money in his pocket. This occurred between Dec. 17, 2014 and March 8, 2015. On Oct. 29, 2015, Kosto admitted to stealing money to investigating officers. He was given until Feb. 1, 2016 to pay back the money he had stolen, which he failed to do. On Feb….

Man Steals $8,750 worth of rings from ex-girlfriend According to the criminal complaint, Randell Weaver, 53, of Boardman, Ohio was accused of stealing rings from his ex-girlfriend. Weaver lived with the victim in Mercer County in 2014. During this time, the victim had moved several of her belongings to the residence of Weaver’s mother in Little Beaver Township, including eighteen of her rings which are valued at $8,750. The rings consisted of diamond/gold, yellow gold, sapphire, emerald, ruby, tanzanite and citrine. Following their breakup in early 2015, Weaver’s ex-girlfriend discovered that the rings were missing from the residence of the…