Police beat July 25
CARROLL
Man wanted: Michael Alan Amati, 37, of 1288 Country Club Road, Carroll Township, is wanted by township police on charges of theft and receiving stolen property, court records show. Police accuse him of stealing a riding lawn tractor worth $2,956 from 19 Donora Road about 6:30 p.m. July 18. District Judge Larry Hopkins signed a warrant for Amati’s arrest last week.
CANONSBURG
Threatening letter: A woman reported finding a threatening letter on a chair on the porch of her Smithfield Street home Friday morning. Police said threats in the handwritten missive were “mostly toward an individual named Nathan, whom she doesn’t know.” The woman told police she wanted to turn it over to them but didn’t feel threatened by it.
Fraud alleged: A woman reported she’d been in contact over social media with someone claiming to be from Arizona who induced the victim into sending her iTunes cards as a way of making money online. On July 18, $3,540 was deposited into the victim’s bank account, but three days later her savings and checking accounts were overdrawn by a total of roughly $2,900.
CHARLEROI
Man jailed: Jack Desellems Jr., 31, of 1223 Prospect Ave., Charleroi, is charged by Charleroi Regional police with burglary and receiving stolen property over allegations he broke into 705 10th St. Monday and stole a PlayStation 4 and medication belonging to John Kollar, police said. Police allege the stolen items were discovered at Desellems’ residence. Desellems was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond, set Monday by District Judge Larry Hopkins.
McDONALD
Man charged: Gregory A. Coats, 38, of 340 Fannie St., was charged with simple assault, strangulation and harassment by McDonald police in connection with an incident at his home Sunday. An officer went to the house about 5 p.m. in response to an anonymous tip from a female caller. Coats’ girlfriend reportedly told police Coats struck her several times in the face with a closed fist and open hand when she confronted him about cheating. She said he also put both hands on her neck and began to choke her. Coats allegedly told the officer he’d “smacked her” and was “tired of being accused of cheating.” He also said he’d “had about six” drinks that day, police said. The woman had a small scratch on the left side of her cheek, blood on her bottom lip and red marks on the left side of her neck. Coats was arraigned before District Judge Traci McDonald and jailed on $15,000 bond, with electronic monitoring as an additional condition of his release.
NORTH FRANKLIN
Simple assault charge: William Summers III, 35, of 124 Altamont Ave., Washington, was charged with simple assault and harassment in connection with an incident at Summers’ home during a child-custody exchange July 11. North Franklin Township police accused Summers of pushing Lisa Crow to the floor, causing a brushburn and a bruise to her arm. Summers was lodged in the county jail on a probation detainer and arraigned Monday before District Judge Robert Redlinger, who set bond at $5,000.
SOMERSET
Driver hurt: Marifat Azantuulu, 25, of Brooklyn, N.Y., suffered minor injuries when his truck and a rig driven by Randal Laney, 39, of Carson, Calif., collided Sunday on Interstate 70 east, state police said. Azantuulu’s truck attempted to change lanes and forced Laney’s rig into the concrete barrier, police said. Laney then attempted to speed up and pull his rig into the right lane, which forced Azantuulu’s into a guardrail and over an embankment, according to police. Azantuulu was taken to Mon Valley Hospital for treatment.
SOUTH STRABANE
Criminal mischief: A man said it appeared his tire was slashed while he was at work at Harbor Freight Tools, 301 Oak Spring Road, Saturday morning. Police said they will inquire with the nearby Home Depot about surveillance videos.
Indecent exposure: Police responded to the McDonald’s in Trinity Point about 10 p.m. Saturday for a report of a man exposing himself. A worker told an officer a customer had reported seeing the man exposing himself in the restaurant’s vestibule. The suspect left before police arrived, and the officer could not locate him.
SPEERS
Assault alleged: William Marmie II, 40, of 308 Phillips St., Speers, is charged by Charleroi Regional police with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct over allegations he struck Shannell Dessell in the face and arms in his residence Saturday, police said. District Judge Larry Hopkins issued the charges Monday via summons.
UNION
Flight charge: Mark A. Clipp, 32, of Fayette City, Fayette County, was charged Wednesday with flight to avoid apprehension. Two days earlier, a Monongahela police officer said he pulled over a pickup truck in which Clipp was a passenger about 6 p.m. near the intersecection of McChain and Stone Church roads. Clipp allegedly jumped out of the truck and fled. The driver, who hasn’t been charged, allegedly told the officer Clipp “had a good bit of heroin on him, so he ran.” Police also reported Clipp had eight outstanding warrants against him. Police said they found two bags of suspected heroin and a cut straw in a tin container the driver allegedly dropped as he got out of the vehicle. Police said they also found two Suboxone strips in the driver’s wallet. Clipp was arraigned Sunday before District Judge Traci McDonald and jailed on $35,000 bond. It was not clear when and where he was arrested.
WASHINGTON
Jail assault charge: Paul Joseph McGavitt, 28, of Roadway Avenue, Donora, was charged with simple assault while an inmate at Washington County jail. City police allege McGavitt, in a common area of the jail, struck Daniel Fisher of Lincoln Avenue, Charleroi, several times, injuring Fisher’s eye and face May 13. McGavitt was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger, who set bond at $5,000.
Escape charge: Nahje Lashelle Patterson, 23, of Locust Avenue, Washington, was arraigned Monday on a charge of escape from the county jail. He was permitted to leave the facility Aug. 27, 2015, for work release or a furlough, but he allegedly failed to return. Sheriff’s deputies picked him up on a warrant, and District Judge Robert Redlinger jailed him on $5,000 bond.
Drug charges: Tiffany N. Ryan, 41, of 1913 Golf Course Drive, Washington, was charged with possession of crack cocaine, intent to deliver the drug and criminal use of a communications device by city police. A police dog and handler answered a call June 2 at an apartment on Moore Avenue, and police said the dog alerted to the scent of the bagged drug, with an estimated value of $1,672, in a toilet. City police took Ryan into custody and alleged in an affidavit her phone rang constantly and received incoming text messages “clearly related to narcotics trafficking.” District Judge Robert Redlinger sent her to Washington County jail on $10,000 bond.