Police Beat March 7
Faces charges: Sidney J. Lauthier, 68, of 810 First St., Canonsburg, faces a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol after crashing his vehicle into a pole in the 400 block of Highland Avenue early Saturday, Canonsburg police said.
Two injured: Cori Henderson, 26, and Melvin Terrell, 57, both of 333 E. Grant St., Houston, were injured when their vehicle crashed in front of 13 Strabane Ave. and flipped on the driver’s side about 1 a.m. Saturday, Canonsburg police said. Both had to be extricated from the wreckage by Canonsburg firefighters. They were taken to Canonsburg Hospital and then flown to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment.
Stolen check cashed: Shirley Pratten of Duquesne Avenue told Canonsburg police Saturday a check was stolen from her home and then cashed for an undetermined amount.
Account accessed: Pamela Salat of Canonsburg told Canonsburg police Sunday her bank account was accessed and five withdrawals were made totaling $1,064.35.
Bicycle stolen: Tara Stokes of 715 Valley View Terrace told Canonsburg police Friday a neon yellow BMX bicycle was stolen from her porch.
Two arrested: William Curcio, 21, of 218 Rear Oakland Ave., Charleroi, was arrested Sunday by Charleroi Regional police on charges of theft, receiving stolen property and access device fraud. He is accused of stealing his mother’s Smith & Wesson handgun, as well as using her credit card from their home. Police said he admitted to selling the gun and using the card to make a purchase. Police arrested Robert Lee Majors, 47, of 1003 Crest Ave., Charleroi, after he allegedly purchased the gun from Curcio. Majors is not permitted to own a weapon. Curcio was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger and placed in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond. Majors was arraigned before District Judge Larry Hopkins on person not to possess a firearm, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in jail on $100,000 bond.
Assault charge: Reed O. Melvin Jr., 29, of Fredericktown, faces charges of simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment filed by state police after he allegedly grabbed an 8-year-old boy, threatened him and hit him in the face Jan. 24 at 133 Frederick Terrace.
Receiving charges: Timothy Melvin Miller, 37, of 155 McCracken Hill Road, Burgettstown, was arraigned Friday before District Judge Gary Havelka on two counts of receiving stolen property filed by Hanover police. He is accused of purchasing two handguns that were reported stolen from a state parole agent’s car in Midway earlier this year. He was placed in Washington County jail on $5,000 bond.
Theft charge: Jessica Nicole Samples, 25, of 102 Noblestown Road, Midway, will be charged with theft by McDonald police. She is accused of stealing about $100 from a man she was caring for at Havelock Commons last October. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Traci McDonald.
Drug charges: Laura Louise Erickson, 55, of 987 Route 837, Carroll Township, is charged by city police with three counts of possession of a controlled substance by fraud or deception, court records show. Police accuse her in calling in prescriptions for a narcotic painkiller to Rite Aid Pharmacy, 446 W. Main St., Dec. 12, Feb. 11 and March 1 while pretending to be someone from a physician’s office. District Judge Mark Wilson issued the charges in a summons Monday.
Driver faces charges: Raymond R. Taylor, 62, of 290 Laurie Lane, Washington, faces charges after he reportedly was found by a passerby passed out at the wheel of his vehicle in the 800 block of Scenic Drive Friday, North Franklin police said. The passerby told police the vehicle was in reverse. She put the vehicle in park and shook Taylor awake before police arrived. He was taken to Washington Hospital, where blood was drawn to determine his alcohol level. Police said he failed field-sobriety tests.
Theft charge: Tessa Michelle Maynard, 20, of Morgantown, W.Va., will be charged by North Franklin police with retail theft after she allegedly stole items from Gander Mountain, Washington Crown Center, Thursday.
Drug charges: Kenneth Michael Crouser, 27, of 819 Governor Circle, Washington, was arrested early Monday by North Strabane police after a traffic stop at Racetrack Road and Meadowlands Boulevard. Police said they found almost 100 grams of marijuana in the vehicle and in his pocket, along with suspected paraphernalia. Crouser was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and traffic violations. He was placed in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond.
Restaurant cited: The operator of Ichiban Steakhouse, 3981 Washington Road, Peters, was cited Monday for allegedly serving alcohol to a 19-year-old at the restaurant July 16.
Assault arrest: Gregory John Carter, 41, of 128 Eleanor St., Langeloth, was arrested Saturday night by Smith police on two counts each of simple assault and harassment for allegedly choking and shoving his wife and 15-year-old stepdaughter during a confrontation at their home. Carter left the home before police arrived and was found at a club in McDonald. He was arraigned before District Judge Traci McDonald and placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond.
Theft, trespass charges: Melissa Zelenka, 34, of 225 Laurie Lane, Amwell Township, was charged last week by Washington police with felony retail theft and defiant trespass after she allegedly stole items from Shop ‘n Save, 125 W. Beau St., on Oct. 25. The charges were filed at the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Theft arraignment: Eric Bee, 35, of 430 W. Chestnut St., Washington, was arraigned Monday before District Judge Robert Redlinger on a charge of retail theft after he allegedly stole items from Shop ‘n Save, 125 W. Beau St., on Sept. 26. He was released on $5,000 unsecured bond.
Old money stolen: Ollie Carnie of West Maiden Street told Washington police Saturday that about $300 in old coins and bills were stolen from his apartment.
Apartment burglarized: Joe Denver of Canonsburg told Washington police Saturday that an apartment in the 200 block of Duncan Avenue was burglarized and later vandalized. Two cable boxes were stolen from the apartment.
Package stolen: Thomesina Sonson of 351 E. Prospect Ave. told Washington police Sunday that a package containing costume jewelry was stolen after it had been delivered to her home.