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Police and Fire

February 27, 2025

Riverside High School Swim Coach Arrested After Inappropriate Relationship With Student

A Riverside High School swim coach was arrested Wednesday for alleged misconduct with a student athlete. According to a criminal complaint and published reports, Alaina Marshall, 29, of Beaver Falls was charged with 40 felonies, consisting of 38 counts of intercourse/sexual contact with a student, in addition to corruption of minors, and unlawful contact with a minor. Police say the relationship began in 2023 when the victim, a 16-year-old sophomore at the time, first talked about a breakup he was going through with Marshall because Marshall was also a therapist. The complaint relates that on February 18th the student spoke…

February 21, 2025

POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

HARASSMENT: On February 2nd at approximately 12:03 a.m. police responded to a report of physical altercation at a local bar in Koppel Borough. Police learned that the suspect left, and later returned to the scene to speak to police. Investigation is ongoing according to a criminal complaint. HARASSMENT: Matthew Summerville, 38, of Ellwood City is charged with harassment after an incident on February 2nd. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 1:11 a.m., police responded to a report of domestic violence at a residence on Wampum Avenue, Ellwood City. When police arrived on scene they made contact with the…

February 13, 2025

Ellwood City Fire Department Among Many To Receive State Grants

Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) announced Wednesday local fire companies and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies were awarded state grants totaling nearly $216,000 from the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program. The program was created by the Legislature and is administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC). Projects eligible for funding include construction or renovation of a fire or ambulance company facility, purchase or repair of equipment, training, or reduction of existing debt. “Local fire and EMS agencies are the backbone of our community’s safety, and it’s crucial that we support…

February 12, 2025

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…

January 31, 2025

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…

January 17, 2025

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,…

January 16, 2025

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…

January 10, 2025

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…

January 3, 2025

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…

December 27, 2024

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…