Dec 30, 2013 6 min read

Assault charge: Charles H. Yater, 62, of 455 Taylorstown Ridge Road, is charged by state police with simple assault and harassment, court records show. He is accused of striking his girlfriend, Verina Lou Bennett, in the head and pulling her hair about 5:30 p.m. Friday in his residence, the affidavit states. Yater is in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond set by District Judge Larry Hopkins.

Attempted theft: Kristin M. Mull, 24, of 44 Kaukonen Drive, Coal Center, is charged by borough police with theft and loitering, court records show. She is accused of trying to drive off with off-duty police officer Elizabeth Davidson’s personal car while it was parked about 10:20 p.m. Saturday at 709 California Drive, the affidavit indicates. Mull allegedly fled after Davidson discovered her in the car. She was later taken into custody near Chalfont Drive. She is in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond set by District Judge Larry Hopkins.

Theft report: Brittany Bellini told borough police her Kindle Fire was stolen between 8:30 and 10 p.m. Sunday while she was away and her apartment on East College Street was unlocked, police said.

Jewelry stolen: Eight pieces of jewelry were reported stolen at 4 p.m. Sunday, township police said. No value was given for the missing jewelry. Evelyn Beckwith of Eagle Point Drive told police she did not know when the jewelry was stolen.

Water line ruptures: Several residential basements in the 200 block of Lyons Street sustained minor flooding damage after a main Pennsylvania American Water line ruptured about 10:44 a.m. Monday, township police said.

Lawn equipment stolen: Mark Miller of 512 Fifth Ave., Bridgeville, told police a black metal utility trailer parked at 310 County Line Road was stolen, township police said. The trailer contained several lawn mowers and leaf blowers valued at $8,000 to $9,000, and was last seen five days before he reported the theft at 3:45 p.m. Sunday.

Burglary: Gary Schmidt of 1521 Millers Run Road, Mt. Pleasant Township, owns a residence at 66 Clifford Road in which seasonal workers for his lawn service company resided before returning to Mexico in November, township police said. When Schmidt checked on the property recently, he discovered copper pipe was cut to the water heater, resulting in two inches of water in the double-wide trailer, police said. Stolen were copper pipe, a regulator and a valve. The burglary was reported at 12:32 p.m. Friday.

Attempted burglary: Joseph Olmsted of 38 McConnell Road said several people attempted to enter his residence as he hid in the bedroom, township police said. A window air conditioner was pushed in, but no entry was made, police said. The attempted burglary was reported at 2:27 a.m. Monday.

Theft case: Laura M. Gourn, 37, of 221 Railroad St., Webster, is charged by city police with access device fraud, theft and receiving stolen property. Gourn is accused of using credit cards issued to Kathleen Marraccini of 114 W. Main St., Monongahela, to make $1,313 in purchases between Nov. 27 and Dec. 2, the affidavit states. Marracinni told police the purchases were made after she lost her purse at an unknown location. Gourn is in Washington County jail on $5,000 bond set Friday by District Judge Mark Wilson.

Assault case: Michael Dzikowski, 48, of 141 Woods Lane, McMurray, is charged by township police with simple assault and harassment, court records show. Police accuse him of strangling and punching his son, who is a juvenile, in the head about 6 p.m. Sunday at 226 Linden Creek Road, the affidavit states. Dzikowski is free on $25,000 bond set by District Judge Larry Hopkins.

Two injured: Two drivers were injured in a two-vehicle crash at 9:42 a.m. Friday in front of 3723 Washington Road, township police said. Driver Paul R. Wyfker, 59, of Scott Lane, Venetia, complained of a cut on the palm of his hand. He was treated by emergency personnel and did not require medical transport, police said. Driver Kimberly Guzzi, 53, of Trotwood Ridge Road, Upper St. Clair, complained of general pain and was transported to St. Clair Hospital, Mt. Lebanon. The hospital does not release patient information. Police said Wyfker was attempting a left turn from a fast-food restaurant to travel south on Washington Road. Guzzi was attempting a left turn from southbound Washington Road when the two sport-utility vehicles collided.

Drug charges: Andrew J. Lucot will be charged by summons with possession of a small amount of marijuana and an equipment violation following a traffic stop at 1:31 a.m. Sunday in the 3300 block of Washington Road, township police said. Lucot, 23, of Dominion Drive, Upper St. Clair, was found to be in possession of two marijuana cigarettes, and particles of suspected marijuana were found on the floor of his vehicle, police said. He was initially stopped for a burned-out headlight.

Theft: A Peters Township man appeared at the police station at 10:53 a.m. Friday to report $500 in cash, his driver’s license and three credit cards bound with a rubber band were lost between Dec. 24 and the time of the report. The resident said he changed into running clothes and left the bound items in his jeans in his vehicle in Peterswood Park. Later, he discovered the cash and cards missing. When he attempted to cancel the credit cards later in the week, he was told an unauthorized charge was made Dec. 26, police said.

Harassing calls: A resident of Ivy Lane told police 15 to 20 telephone calls were made to her residence between 6:30 and 8 p.m. Friday. The calls were reported at 8:53 p.m. A voice message was played for police, allegedly from Dennis G. Burns III, expressing anger about a car parked in the woman’s driveway. Police said Burns also made calls to 911 about the vehicle. Burns, 50, of Duquesne, will be charged with harassment, police said.

Harassment charge: Don Louis Kress Jr., 69, of Bentleyville, is charged by state police with harassment, accused of shoving Cynthia Kress, 62, about 6:30 p.m. Saturday in his residence, police said.

Trooper assault alleged: Aaron M. King, 34, of Allison, is charged with aggravated assault on a member of law enforcement, resisting arrest, escape, flight to avoid apprehension and criminal mischief. King is accused of striking Trooper Christine Marth in the face about 12:20 p.m. Friday after the officer approached him in a vehicle parked along Interstate 70 west. King fled on foot when told he was wanted by state police in Uniontown and was apprehended following a foot chase, police said. King is in Washington County jail on $50,000 bond set by District Judge Ethan Ward.