Police beat Feb. 7
Woman struck: Vanessa Jean Beatty of 214 E. College St. told Canonsburg police Friday she was slapped on the face by her boyfriend’s former girlfriend during a custody exchange. Charges will be filed against the alleged assailant.
Warrant arrest: Melissa A. Dowdy, 31, of Frenchville, Clearfield County, was arraigned Thursday before District Judge David Mark on a warrant from Indiana County on one count of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and other charges stemming from an April 15, 2015, incident in Clymer, Indiana County. She was placed in Washington County jail on $5,000 bond, pending transfer to Indiana County.
Threats arrest: Querran Talley, 20, of 1573 Streator Ave., South Strabane Township, was arrested on a warrant obtained by Cecil police charging him with terroristic threats and harassment. He is accused of threatening to shoot his former girlfriend, who is 17, and her current boyfriend at a home in Cecil Nov. 29. Talley was arraigned before District Judge David Mark and placed in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond.
Student charged: Michael Obitko, 18, of 131-Rear Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi, was arrested Thursday by Charleroi Regional police on charges of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, simple assault, terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct stemming from a Jan. 31 incident at Charleroi Area High School, 100 Fecsen Drive. He is accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student at the school with a hammer. Police, who were notified Wednesday, said the alleged incident started as students joking around during a seventh-period class and reportedly throwing paper at Obitko. He was arraigned before District Judge David Mark and placed in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond.
Men charged: Gregory Grahek, 48, of 23 McClain St., Republic, and Rodney Dominic Miske, 47, of 417 Upper Middletown Road, Smock, are each charged by state police with burglary, trespassing and theft, court records show. Police accuse them of entering 1384 Route 481 through a damaged door and stealing three cast iron radiators worth $600 from Carl Deicas. District Judge Larry Hopkins signed warrants for their arrests Friday.
Drug arrest: Keilan Johnson, 21, of Sturgeon, was arrested Friday by McDonald police on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and corruption of minors. He is accused of selling marijuana to juveniles at a home on Johns Avenue. He was arraigned before District Judge David Mark and placed in Washington County jail on $5,000 bond.
Theft, trespass charges: Dennis Ed Hutchinson Jr., 23, of Acme, was charged last week by North Strabane police with theft, possessing instruments of a crime, criminal trespass, trespass by motor vehicle and having obscured plates stemming from a Jan. 17 incident at the Planet Fitness work site, 100 Park Place. Police spotted his truck leaving the area and noticed the license plated was obstructed. The truck was stopped, and police said there was a 350-gallon tank in the bed that was almost filled with diesel fuel, a 50-gallon drum also almost filled with diesel and a smaller drum with very little fuel. There also were footprints on the bumper of the truck. Police later learned 367 gallons of fuel had been stolen from an excavating company working at the site. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.
Driver injured: Patricia Comini-Miller, 77, of Quail Run Road, McMurray, was injured Sunday afternoon when her vehicle crashed into guardrails at the intersection of Thomas and Ross roads, North Strabane police said. She told police that she was going around a curve when she accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake. She was taken to Canonsburg Hospital for treatment.
Vehicles entered: North Strabane police said two unlocked vehicles were entered on Lindenvue Drive and two more on Vista Hill Drive late Friday or early Saturday. Loose change and cash were stolen from the vehicles. A diaper bag containing a driver’s license, credit cards and checkbook was stolen from one of the vehicles on Lindenvue.
Warrant arrest: Louis Calabro, 25, of 33 ½ Leet St., Washington, was arraigned Sunday before District Judge David Mark on three counts of retail theft filed by South Strabane police for allegedly stealing items from two businesses last month. He is accused of stealing items valued at $697 from Target, Strabane Square, on Jan. 17 and computers from Walmart on Jan. 25 and 27. He was placed in Washington County jail on $30,000 bond.
Two charged: James P. Mancini, 39, and Melissa Kay Mancini, 38, both of Powhatan Point, Ohio, were arrested by South Strabane police on charges of possession of heroin and paraphernalia. Police said they were found with the suspected drug when officers responded to Tanger Outlets Saturday for a report of suspicious activity. The two were arraigned before District Judge David Mark and placed in Washington County Jail on $25,000 bonds. James Mancini is also wanted on an outstanding warrant from Westmoreland County.
Theft arrest: Michelle Trout, 47, of 360 Duncan Ave., Washington, was arrested Friday by South Strabane police on a felony charge of retail theft after she allegedly stole items from Kohl’s, Strabane Square. She was arraigned before District Judge David Mark and placed in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond.
Stolen prescription pads: An employee of CVS, 175 W. Beau St., told Washington police Friday a prescription pad was stolen from a Washington area doctor. Seven fraudulent prescriptions were passed at the store for hydrocodone or Tramador between October and Jan. 25. Other bogus prescriptions reportedly have been passed at other stores.
Faces charges: Joshua Roberts, 34, of Pittsburgh, was taken into custody after police say he was found passed out in a running vehicle on West Chestnut Street at Grove Avenue Friday. Police said he admitted to ingesting heroin earlier in the day. Police said they also found a digital scale and syringes in the vehicle. Roberts was placed in Washington County jail on a probation detainer. Police will charge him with possession of paraphernalia.
Vehicle stolen, recovered: Washington police said a 1997 Suzuki Sport owned by a Washington man was reported stolen Saturday from Isiminger’s, 140 Jefferson Ave. The vehicle was later found behind a home in the 500 block of McCarrell Avenue. Charges are pending against a suspect.
Warrant arrest: Hilary Montesano, 23, of 110 W. Wylie Ave., Washington, faces a felony retail theft charge for allegedly stealing items from Shop ‘n Save, West Beau Street, on Saturday. She was placed in Washington County jail on a bench warrant from Butler County.
Items stolen: Thomas Proitt of Washington told Washington police Thursday that items were stolen from a garage he rents on B Avenue. He will provide police with a list of the stolen items.