Police Beat July 6
Criminal mischief: Someone vandalized a mailbox by throwing a firecracker that exploded and blew a hole in the side of the box on Barret Hill Road about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
Man charged: Shawn J. Durbin, 35, of 414 Oakland Ave., Charleroi, is charged by Charleroi Regional police with hindering apprehension and disorderly conduct over allegations he slammed the door on officers when they attempted to serve a warrant on Crystal Bruce about 11:35 p.m. June 30 at his residence, court records show. Police said they found the woman in a room with a door concealed by drywall. Durbin is free on $25,000 bond set Saturday by District Judge Larry Hopkins.
Items stolen: State police are asking anyone with information about a burglary at 45 Ridge Avenue to call them at 724-223-5200. Someone entered the home through a bedroom window between June 9 and June 12 and stole a TV, XBox and video games.
Warrant signed: Anthony Durward Hurst, 44, of New Cumberland, W.Va., is charged by state police with burglary, theft and criminal mischief over allegations he pried open a side door to a house on MacCracken Hill Road and stole a purse containing a checkbook and credit cards while no one was home June 29, court records show. Police said a witness identified the suspect by reviewing the victim’s Facebook friends. District Judge Larry Hopkins signed a warrant Saturday for Hurst’s arrest.
Theft alleged: Brandon Michael Retos, 34, of 409 N. Wade Ave., East Washington, is charged by state police with theft over accusations he stole $195 from a purse belonging to Celiena Sakhia after he knocked on her door about 11:30 p.m. June 24 and attempted to sell her a gift card, court records show. Retos was placed in Washington County jail on $15,000 bond after being arrested on a warrant and arraigned Saturday before District Judge Larry Hopkins.
Assault arrest: James Henry Pressley III, 29, of 343 Jefferson Ave., Washington, was arrested Monday on a warrant obtained by McDonald police charging him with a June 18 assault and threats against a woman at her Miller Street home in the Allegheny County section of the borough. He was initially arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka before he was arraigned early Tuesday in Allegheny County on charges of simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment. He is in Allegheny County jail on $5,000 bond.
Theft alleged: Bernicky Mae Johnson, 46, of 409 Reed Ave., Monessen, is charged by city police with felony retail theft and receiving stolen property over allegations she stole merchandise valued at $93 about 3 p.m. July 1 from Foodland, 701 Donner Ave., court records show. She is free on $1,500 bond set Sunday by District Judge Joseph Dalfonso.
Vehicle damaged: A Washington man reported to state police that his vehicle was damaged Monday while parked in the 1700 block of East National Pike.
Assault alleged: Jennifer Lynn Lucas, 34, of 423 Pierson Run Road, Pittsburgh, is charged by township police with simple assault and harassment over allegations she head-butted her boyfriend, Jeff Herforth, causing injuries to his nose about 12:50 a.m. Saturday at 551 Elm St., court records show. Lucas is free on $25,000 bond set that day by District Judge Larry Hopkins.
Two injured: Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash about 11:10 a.m. Tuesday on McClelland Road at the ramp to Interstate 79. North Strabane police said a vehicle driven by Hamide Eker, 30, of Monroeville, turned left from the ramp into the path of a vehicle driven by Tiffany Zirwas, 28, of 201 DiCio St., Canonsburg. Both drivers went to Canonsburg Hospital for treatment. Two children in Eker’s vehicle were not injured.
Crash leads to charges: Natasha Rae Ostrander, 31, of 989 Thompson Ave., Donora, was charged by township police with endangering the welfare of children and driving with a license that had been revoked for medical reasons following a one-vehicle crash about 4:45 p.m. June 23 on Route 906 near the Donora-Monessen Bridge, court records show. Police said Ostrander was driving a vehicle with bald tires when it traveled off the berm, struck guardrails and overturned, landing on a gravel bed alongside railroad tracks. Police said two children were in the vehicle with her. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso received notification Wednesday that a certified summons that was sent to Ostrander remained unclaimed.
Theft alleged: Holly Lynn Smith, 34, of 509 Jackson St., Monongahela, is charged by township police with theft over allegations she received $93 worth of merchandise from another woman at Walmart, 100 Sara Way, and returned it for a gift card in that amount about 7 p.m. May 31, court records show. A co-defendant in the case, Kristin A. Harrison, 47, of 108 Main St., New Eagle, is charged with theft. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso issued the charges by summons Monday.
Assault alleged: Bruce Allen Gray, 53, of 514 Webster Hollow Road, Rostraver Township, is charged by township police with simple assault and harassment over allegations he struck Mark Hamilton in the face during a dispute about missing money about 6:45 p.m. June 22 at 136 Maria Drive, court records show. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso issued the case Monday in a summons.
Theft alleged: Dave Michael Zywicki, 44, 1203 State Road, Monessen, is charged by township police with theft and receiving stolen property over allegations he stole a cellphone from a woman who left it in a buggy at Walmart, 100 Sara Way, and then took it to a kiosk that gave him $90 for the device about 7:30 p.m. June 6, court records show. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso issued the charges in a summons Wednesday.
Tire cut: Delbert Steward of 720 Michigan Ave. told South Strabane police Tuesday a tire on his vehicle was cut while the vehicle was parked at Northgate Apartments.
Woman charged: Nancy J. Durrah, 56, of Canton, Ohio, is charged by city police with resisting arrest, trespassing and disorderly conduct stemming from a disturbance at the George Washington Hotel, 60 S. Main St., about 3 a.m. Saturday, court records show. Durrah is free on $25,000 bond set by District Judge Larry Hopkins.
Assault charges: John Curtis Campbell Jr., 48, of 331 Central Ave., Washington, was arrested early Wednesday by Washington police after he allegedly assaulted a 32-year-old woman during a confrontation at his home the previous night. He is accused of punching the woman in the face, putting her in a headlock and causing her to hit her eye off a dresser. She was taken to Washington Hospital for treatment. Campbell was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka on charges of strangulation and aggravated assault. He was placed in Washington County jail on $30,000 bond.
Vehicle taken: Loretta Ruffin of 95 Marie Ave. told Washington police Tuesday that her vehicle was taken without her permission.
Man injured: Adam Joseph Mikolay, 24, of 184 Ridge Road, Centerville, is charged by state police with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct over allegations he struck and ran over Jesse James Firestone with an all-terrain vehicle about 12:30 a.m. Sunday outside a bar at 1754 Main St., court records show. Washington Hospital treated Firestone for his injuries. Mikolay is free on $35,000 bond set by District Judge Larry Hopkins.
Mailbox vandalized: A mailbox on Chambers Ridge Road was reportedly damaged about 2:30 a.m. Sunday.