Jan 2, 2013 9 min read

Charged in theft: Charles Swoger, 23, of 93 South St., Brownsville, was charged by Southwest Regional police with theft for allegedly stealing a laptop computer from a home at 11 Ames Road, Bentleyville, late last month. The laptop, owned by Angela Gallagher of Cokeburg, was found at a pawn shop. The charge was sent by summons from the office of District Judge Curtis Thompson.

Jewelry stolen: Delores Gibbs, 510 Moore Ave., told Canonsburg police Saturday jewelry was stolen from her home and possibly sold at a Peters Township jewelry store. Police checked and she was able to identify some of the items. Police are continuing their investigation.

Money stolen: Ed Gregorczyk, 308 Grace Ave., told Canonsburg police Tuesday $140 was stolen from his home.

Charged in assault: Chande Sickman, 32, of 230 Reed Ave., was arrested Dec. 28 by Houston police after she allegedly assaulted a repo man who came to take away her vehicle. She reportedly threw a rock and battery at his vehicle. She then allegedly kicked him and pushed him while police were at the scene. She was arraigned before District Judge David Mark on charges of simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct and released.

Club cited: The operators of the American Legion Club, 124 W. Pike St., Houston, were cited by the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement for allegedly possessing and operating gambling devices between Aug. 12 and 15.

Bar cited: The oeprators of Hart’s Restaurant and Lounge, 112 Third St., McDonald, were cited by the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement for allegedly possessing or operating gambliong devices or paraphernalia on Sept. 27.

Disorderly charge: Sara Ratley, 23, of Pittsburgh, was charged with disorderly conduct by North Franklin police for allegedly spitting on Natasha Wietrzykow, 22, of Washington, while the two were at Washington Crown Center Saturday. Ratley was reportedly angry over a statement reportedly made by the other woman on Facebook. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.

Charged in traffic stop: Ronald K. McMillan Jr., 21, of 740 Ewing St., Washington, and James I. Evans, 19, of 840 Addison St., Washington, were each charged with disorderly conduct after being found with suspected marijuana seeds during a traffic stop.

Retail theft charge: Bradley Lee Stiles, 55, of Indiana, was charged by North Franklin police with retail theft after allegedly stealing $140 in items from Gander Mountain last month. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.

Escapes injury: Richard Phelan, 80, of 1000 Banetown Road, Amwell Township, escaped injury Dec. 26 when his vehicle went off South Main Street near Hazlett Lane, went into a ditch and hit two gas meters, North Franklin police said.

Charged in money theft: Beatricia R. Meriweather, 31, of 356 Houston St., Washington, was charged Friday by North Franklin police with theft for allegedly stealing $1,200 from the cash register while working at Sears, Washington Crown Center, last month. Store officials notified police after noticing money missing from her work station. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.

Cellphone stolen: Gabrielle Bruno of Burgettstown told North Strabane police her iPhone 4 with a pink and black cover was stolen Sunday while she was at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

Faces DUI charge: Mark A. Wylie, 47, of 17 Ridgewood Drive, McDonald, faces a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol after he was found passed out, slumped over in the driver’s seat of his pickup Sunday night on Southpointe Boulevard at Morganza Road. North Strabane police said the vehicle was in drive and Wylie’s foot was on the brake. Inside the truck, police found an empty bottle of vodka, open and unopened cans of beer and a cup of beer in the center console cup holder. Wylie was taken to Canonsburg General Hospital, where blood was drawn to determine his blood-alcohol level.

Escapes injury: Todd Crispin, 34, of 623 Scenic Ridge Drive, Venetia, escaped injury Friday when his vehicle went off Waterdam Road and slid into a tree, North Strabane police said.

Scam reported: A resident of Molly Drive reported he was contacted by a person he believed was a salesman for Dish Newtork Dec. 18, who promised him a free upgrade of equipment and free services on the installed equipment, township police said. The new equipment was installed Dec. 21, then the man received an email saying he was obligated to pay $380, which he was to send by electronic transfer through Western Union to Texas, police said. The man sent the money. He then received a separate bill from Dish Network for $300, police said. The man contacted Dish Network and was informed he was a victim of fraud, police said.

Rings stolen: Three class rings, from 1967, 1971 and 1966, were stolen from a top drawer in the master bathroom in a house in the 200 block of Overlook Drive, township police said. The theft was reported at 2:35 p.m. Monday. The rings are valued at $1,450, police said.

Driver escapes injury: Michael Wolz, 18, of Bridle Trail, Venetia, lost control of his car while traveling east in the 300 block of Springdale Drive, at 2:22 a.m. Sunday, township police said. The car crossed through the wesbound lane and went partially off the road and through a yard at 319 Springdale Drive, police said. The car then struck an unoccupied vehicle parked on the property and owned by Richard Crimm of 319 Springdale Drive, police said. Wolz’s car then hit an embankment and became stuck on a landscape rock. Wolz was not injured.

Criminal trespass: Police were called to the 200 block of Rutledge Drive when a man complained his stepson, Jesse Tombs, 19, had entered the house without permission while the family was away from Dec. 25 until Tuesday, township police said. Tombs, police said, admitted to entering the house to host parties. During the time, several items were stolen or damaged including interior doors, walls, four PlayStation games, a PlayStation III, and an Xbox 360, police said. The investigation continues and no charges have been filed against Tombs. However, while police were at the residence, Tombs’ mother, Natalie Tombs, 39, arrived, yelled at her son and began to slap and punch his face, police said. She will be cited with a summary violation of harassment.

Arrested in assaults: Martin Alexander Work, 45, of 35 Howard Ave., South Franklin, was arrested by state police early Tuesday for allegedly assaulting his daughter, her husband and one of their friends. His daughter, Ashley Lindhart, told police Work got into a confrontation at their home at 30 Keenan Ave., South Franklin. Work allegedly grabbed her husband by the neck. during the scuffle, he tried to hit Ike Lindhart’s brother but instead hit a bystander, Rachel Drinkwater, police said. Work then left the house, got a snow shovel and banged it against the outside wall of the house trailer until the shovel broke. Police saw several dents on the home. Work then went to his home behind the Lindhart residence. Work was arraigned before District Judge Curtis Thompson on three counts each of simple assault and harassment and one county of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. He was placed in the Washington County jail on a $4,500 percentage bond.

Charged with DUI: Clinton Lee Jenkins, 32, of 191 Ashmore Ave., South Strabane, will be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after allegedly hitting a parked vehicle on Fairview Avenue early Tuesday, South Strabane police said. His 29-year-old wife, Sarah Jenkins, initially told police she was driving but they then admitted he was driving. She was treated at the scene for a head laceration. His blood-alcohol content was double the 0.08 limit presumed for intoxication.

Escapes injury: Grant McCarty, 20, of 51 W. College St., Canonsburg, escaped injury Monday night when his vehicle left the road and hit an embankment, South Strabane police said. He will be cited for having bald tires.

Arraigned on drug charges: Jason Anthony Milone, 32, of 1617 E. Maiden St., Washington, was arraigned Monday on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver cocaine for allegedly selling the drug to a confidential informant for $200 at the Northgate Plaza shopping center, Route 19, Washington, Aug. 5, 2011. He was arraigned before District Judge Curtis Thompson and placed in the Washington County jail on a $10,000 percentage bond.

Arraigned on drug charges: Franklin Lamont Bennett, 54, of 261 Locust Ave., Washington, was arraigned Monday on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver crack after allegedly selling the drug April 15 to a confidential informant and undercover state trooper in a parking lot on Highland Avenue, Washington. He was arraigned before District Judge Curtis Thompson and released on $20,000 unsecured bond.

Van stolen, returned: Bill Volle, 796 Addison St., told Washington police Tuesday afternoon his 2005 Chrysler van was stolen from the front of his home that morning. Police filed charges against his two sons, Benjimin Julian Volle, 21, and William Volle Jr., 23, of the same address, at District Judge Robert Redlinger’s office Wednesday for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The van was returned Tuesday.

Disorderly charge: Karl Binder, 52, of 235 W. Chestnut St., Washington, faces a disorderly conduct charge after Washington police found him with a suspected marijuana pipe and fireworks early Tuesday. Police spotted fireworks being discharged in the parking lot of the apartment complex and saw a man, later identified as Binder run into an apartment.

GPS, coins stolen: Rayland Kozy, 1140 Allison Ave., told Washington police a global positioning system and coins were stolen by a thief who broke into her vehicle Tuesday.

Faces charges: Barbara Vibonese, 42, of 86 S. Wade Ave., Washington, faces a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol after allegedly hitting a vehicle in the drive-through lane at First Niagara Bank, 200 W. Beau Street, Monday before hitting the building. She refused to submit to a blood alcohol test. Witnesses told police a passenger, Mark McNeely, 53, also of 86 S. Wade, was initially driving but they switched before the crash. He was taken to Washington Hospital after he told police he was having a seizure. Blood was drawn to determine if McNeely was under the influence.