Police Beat May 25
Paraphernalia charge: David Cody Bell, 25, of 1257 Templeton Run Road, Claysville, was charged Wednesday with possession of paraphernalia by state police after troopers were called to a domestic dispute over the weekend on East Buffalo Church Road, Buffalo. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
Drug charges: Grant Perry, 21, of Clairton, was charged Tuesday by California police with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and disorderly conduct stemming from a May 14 traffic stop on Highland Drive at California Road. Police reportedly found marijuana wax and paraphernalia in the vehicle. Charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Joshua Kanalis.
Harassment: Cody M. Hudgkin of Canonsburg was charged by state police with unlawful dissemination and two counts of harassment Tuesday after he allegedly posted an explicit photo of a woman on Facebook. Police said he also texted vulgarities to the woman. Charges were filed with District Judge David Mark.
Woman injured: A passenger in a truck was seriously injured early Tuesday when the truck left Weirich Avenue and struck a tree, state police said. Deanne Ritchey, 38, of Washington, was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh. The driver of the vehicle fled before police arrived, leaving Ritchey inside with a head injury.
Assault arrest: Nathaniel Jacob Eisel, 20, of 108 1/2 W. Wylie Ave., Canton, was arrested Tuesday by state police on charges of simple assault and harassment. He is accused of hitting his girlfriend in the face during a confrontation at their home. She was taken to Washington Hospital for treatment. He was arraigned before District Judge Traci McDonald and placed in Washington County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Assault alleged: Shavon Stephens, 25, of 202 Oakland Ave., Charleroi, is charged by Charleroi Regional police with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct over allegations she clawed and scratched William Griffin III at her residence about noon May 19, court records show. Griffin, 33, of Pittsburgh, is similarly charged over allegations he struck Stephens in the head during the fight. District Judge Larry Hopkins issued the charges by summons Monday.
Bar cited: The owner of Hagerman’s, 449 N. Main St., Chartiers, was cited Wednesday by the state police Bureau of Liquor Control for allegedly allowing gambling on April 25.
Man jailed: Brian Lyon II, 35, of 741 Fourth St., Donora, is charged by borough police with possessing one stamp bag of heroin and two bags of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and hindering after an officer served him with a warrant about 8 p.m. May 14 at 446 McKean Ave., court records show. He was placed in Washington County Jail on $20,000 bond set Tuesday by District Judge Larry Hopkins.
Woman arrested: Jennifer Rose Kroskie, 32, of 1339 McKean Ave., Donora, was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Traci McDonald on charges of aggravated assault, escape, simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. Donora police filed the charges against her after a disturbance Monday at the Eagle’s Club, 301 McKean. She is accused of slapping an officer after she was taken to the police station to sober up in a holding cell. She allegedly continued to struggle with officers and reportedly tried to get out of the cell. Kroskie was placed in Washington County Jail on $25,000 bond.
Theft alleged: Lynn Ryan, 47, of 306 Telegraph Road, Luzerne Township, Fayette County, is charged by city police with identity theft, unauthorized access device use, theft and receiving stolen property, court records show. Police accuse her of paying $6,000 worth of her bills with another woman’s bank card between February and April, court records show. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso issued the charges Monday in a summons.
Tavern cited: The owner of B&B Tavern, 220 Latimer Ave., North Strabane, was cited Wednesday by state police for allegedly allowing gambling on the premises April 25.
Assault alleged: Ragina Theresa Corbitt, 26, of 426 Sixth St., Donora, is charged by township police with simple assault over allegations she struck James E. Gastin Jr. in the face and body about 4:50 p.m. Monday at the Exxon station at 900 Rostraver Road, court records show. She is free on $1,000 unsecured bond set that day by District Judge Joseph Dalfonso.
Retail theft: Heidi Marie Mathews, 34, of 20 Dunkard Ave., Uniontown, is charged by township police with felony retail theft and receiving stolen property over accusations she stole merchandise worth $152 from Walmart, 100 Sara Way, and gave some of it to another woman to return for a gift card valued at a similar amount about 10 a.m. May 19, court records show.
Theft case: Bradley Sean Barcus, 44, of 211 Water St., Belle Vernon, is charged by township police with theft and receiving stolen property over allegations he returned items he knew were stolen from Walmart, 100 Sara Way, in exchange for a gift card valued at $122 about 1:20 p.m. May 11, court records show. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso issued the charges in a summons Tuesday.
Woman charged: Kathleen M. Urick, 41, of 211 Water St., Belle Vernon, is charged by township police with retail theft and receiving stolen property over allegations she stole merchandise worth $142 from Walmart about 1:20 p.m. May 11 and gave some of it to another person to return to the store in exchange for a gift card, court records show. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso issued the charges in a summons Tuesday.
Simple assault charge: Police charged Ernest J. Carson, 44, of 321 Riverside Drive in Van Meter, with simple assault and harassment in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident Sunday at his home. Police were called to the home at 8:39 p.m. According to police, a woman there said Carson had “busted into the bathroom” while she was inside, “hit her in the head with an open hand,” “pushed her into the closet door and then slammed her head off the closet door.” This was shortly after he reportedly yelled at her for leaving the car door open. The woman said she felt pain in her head, and an officer reportedly saw redness on the left side of her head. Police filed charges the following day, when Carson was arraigned. He is free on $5,000 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. July 3 before District Judge Charles Christner.
Indecent exposure report: Police charged Ralph G. Malesic, 80, of Whitehall, Allegheny County, with indecent exposure in connection with an April 19 incident on Route 51. The driver of a work truck reported seeing Malesic exposing himself as he drove north and was traveling beside the truck in his small red car. Malesic was charged by summons Monday from District Judge Charles Christner’s office.
Shoplifting alleged: Police charged Tynan A. Noakes, 23, of Redstone Township, Fayette County, with retail theft and theft by deception. Police said store surveillance footage from Lowe’s Home Improvement on May 17 shows Noakes putting a cordless chainsaw in his cart. He allegedly returned it without a receipt, receiving a $334 gift card, at the store service desk. Noakes was charged Tuesday by summons from District Judge Joseph Dalfonso’s office.
Theft charges: Police charged Eurania T. Merritt, 43, of Greensburg, with retail theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property Tuesday. Police said surveillance footage from Walmart shows Merritt taking unspecified items from “the toothbrush aisle” without paying before returning them in exchange for a $52 gift card May 12.
Theft charges: Brittney N. Ducsay, 23, of 1313 Morgan Circle, North Strabane Township, was charged Tuesday with receiving stolen property and theft by deception. Police allege surveillance footage from Walmart shows Ducsay returning several items believed stolen from the store by another woman shortly beforehand and receiving a gift card worth $160 on May 1.
Drug charges: Police charged Jared J. Williams, 27, of Newell, Fayette County, with public drunkenness and possessing heroin and Oxycontin. Police were called to the Subway on Rostraver Road on Jan. 26 and reportedly encountered Williams inside showing “prominent signs of intoxication including lethargy, inability to follow commands and constricted pupils.” While arresting him for public drunkenness, an officer allegedly found eight stamp bags containing suspected heroin and two partial pills believed to be Oxycontin.
Unauthorized use charge: Melinda Leeann Headlee, 44, of 916 Oak St., Marianna, was charged last week by state police with unauthorized use of a vehicle, driving under suspension and careless driving after she was stopped near the intersection of Highland Ridge and S Bridge roads, South Franklin, in a vehicle she allegedly took without permission earlier this month. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
Two arrested: Nicholas Duane Forren, 24, who is reportedly homeless, and Scott William Lyons, 41, of Aliquippa, were arrested Tuesday night by South Strabane police on charges of retail theft, conspiracy and possession of paraphernalia. They are accused of stealing a lawn mower, weed trimmer and drill from Lowe’s, Strabane Square. They were arraigned before District Judge Traci McDonald and placed in Washington County Jail on $7,500 bonds.
Man jailed: Shane Anthony Kovatch, 31, of 88 N. Main St., Washington, is charged by state police with possession of heroin and crack paraphernalia stemming from a traffic stop on Interstate 70 west at the Charleroi exit about 12:40 a.m. May 19, court records show. Kovatch was sent to Westmoreland County Jail on a warrant in a theft case.
Drug charge: Marcus Brandon Johnson, 25, of 524 10th St., Monessen, is charged by state police with crack possession stemming from a traffic stop about 8:10 p.m. May 16 on Interstate 70 west at the Speers interchange, court records show. District Judge Larry Hopkins issued the charge in a summons Monday.
Vehicle damaged: Karen Sphar of Washington told Washington police Tuesday that her vehicle was damaged while parked in the lot at 125 W. Beau St.
Ring stolen: Violet Schweinebraten of Duncan Avenue told Washington police Tuesday that her diamond and gold ring was stolen from her home.
Bogus cards: The owner of Route 19 EZ Cash, 110 Highland Ave., told Washington police that he was scammed out of $775 that he paid for $1,550 in Disney gift cards that he later learned were no good because the cards were reported lost or stolen.
Club cited: The state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement cited the Washington Lodge of the Elks, 138 E. Maiden St., Wednesday for allegedly allowing gambling on the premises April 25.