Smith police charge man with theft
Smith Township police have obtained arrest warrants for a Burgettstown man who already is in Washington County jail serving time on burglary, theft and arson charges.
Paul J. Bartoletti, 21, of 66 Bavington Road, is charged with three counts of theft, six counts of criminal mischief and four counts of defiant trespass for allegedly stealing vehicles from Wally’s Auto Service, 15 Bavington Road, last month.
Bartoletti is accused of cutting the lock and chain off a fenced enclosure at the business in the early morning hours of Aug. 3.
Police said he found keys for a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria owned by Brandon Kriznik. He allegedly admitted to Officer Larry Bonazza he drove the car around the area. The car struck rocks and trees, damaging it, police said. The car was found abandoned in a swampy area off Steubenville Pike. Police said the car had to be totaled because of damage to the body and undercarriage.
That same morning, Bartoletti allegedly stole a 2011 Nissan Rogue owned by Diana Beam. He took that vehicle for a drive, police said, striking unknown objects and causing more than $4,000 in damage to it.
According to police, Bartoletti again cut the lock and chain on the fenced enclosure. Bartoletti allegedly admitted to Bonazza he got the keys for a Mercury owned by Betty Kriznik and drove it around the area. Police said he struck unknown objects with the vehicle and drove it into two garage doors on Burgettstown School District buildings, then parked the vehicle at the Hillman Park baseball field and left the area.
Bartoletti was jailed Friday to serve a six-month sentence on the other charges filed by McDonald police. He stole a flower delivery vehicle from a Burgettstown business in September 2015. That vehicle, owned by Lily’s Flower Boutique, was later found burned in Smith.
Bartoletti will be arraigned later before District Judge Gary Havelka on the new charges.