Aug 9, 2018 7 min read

BRIDGEVILLE

Liquor violation filed: The operator of Mac & Toz Alehouse, 500 Washington Ave., was cited Monday by the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement for allegedly operating without a license from June 1 to 29 and July 9.

BUFFALO

Vehicle missing: Bruce Levers told state police he parked his black 1998 Ford Ranger near a building along Flag Lane when it got a flat tire Saturday. When he returned at 8 a.m. Sunday, the vehicle was gone. Police are asking anyone with information on the vehicle, license number ZLS-3317, to call them at 724-223-5200.

CANONSBURG

Fake money: Police received a report an unidentified man attempted to make a purchase at Dollar General on Adams Avenue Monday using a $20 bill marked “replica,” which the clerk rejected. The man left before police arrived. The store manager told police two similar bills had been used at the store before the bank caught them.

Fraud reported: A borough woman told police Monday she was the victim of a scam involving an email, purportedly from a prospective employer. The sender had required her first to cash a check at a bank and then to buy $5,000 in Amazon gift cards, whose PINs and card numbers she provided the “employer” before she learned from the bank the check and job offer were fraudulent. Police advised her to get a credit report and fraud alert because she had provided personal information to the scammer.

Cat killed: Borough police received a complaint Tuesday evening two dogs had mauled a cat in the backyard of a house in the 300 block of West College Street. After speaking with a neighbor who reported the incident, the dogs’ owner said the cat must have come into the fenced-in yard before the dogs cornered and killed it. He said he’d tried to stop the dogs but didn’t want any of the animals to attack him. The county animal control officer told a borough officer it seemed the dogs’ owner wasn’t at fault, but said she’d look into the situation.

CANTON

Man charged: State police filed charges against Matthew R. Phillips, 23, of Chartiers Township after he allegedly resisted police Monday during what started as a request for troopers to check on Phillips at the Circle K on Henderson Avenue. A caller had reported Phillips was making comments about suicide. Police said Phillips was upset when three troopers encountered him on the sidewalk outside the store, and troopers told him he wasn’t allowed to leave. Court papers said Phillips put his hands on his head and one of the troopers began patting him down for weapons before Phillips grabbed the trooper’s left arm. The troopers had to use “substantial force” to handcuff him. Phillips faces charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Assault charges: State police charged Sean V. Bonacci, 47, of Griffith Avenue with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment Tuesday after police were called that night to the Polish Club on the same street as Bonacci’s home. There they met Bonacci’s girlfriend, who told police he’d grabbed her hair, stepped on her throat and kicked her in the side during an argument at the couple’s home. Bonacci reportedly denied the allegations. Court records show Bonacci is being held in Washington County jail following his arraignment before District Judge Jesse Pettit, who set bond at $75,000.

Juveniles charged: Four boys were charged by state police in juvenile court with burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief after they allegedly entered a building at 55 Hickory St. owned by Crossgates Inc. July 31.

EAST BETHLEHEM

Woman charged: Beth A. Santucci was charged Wednesday by Centerville police with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. Santucci allegedly punched a woman in the left eye during an argument at Santucci’s Clark Street home July 27. Charges were filed by summons at District Judge Joshua Kanalis’ office.

ELLSWORTH

Liquor law citation: The operator of Crazy Horse Bar, 28 S. Main St., was cited Monday by the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement for allegedly allowing smoking in a prohibited place Jan. 6, March 31 and April 25.

MONESSEN

Man jailed: Wilfredo Smith, 45, of 520 S. Fourth St., Monessen, is charged by city police with drug possession with intent to deliver, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, court records show. He is accused of having 24 stamp bags of heroin, three ecstasy tablets and an assortment of other pills when a state parole officer went to his residence to perform a compliance check about noon Tuesday. Smith was placed in Westmoreland County jail on $25,000 bond.

MONONGAHELA

Man charged: Radames Garcia Jr., 19, of 510 Park Ave., Monongahela, is charged by city police with propulsion of missiles, simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. He is accused of throwing rocks into a vehicle driven by Alex T. Clark, injuring his head, about 1:15 a.m. July 25 near Garcia’s residence. Two boys also face similar charges in juvenile petitions. District Judge Mark Wilson issued the charges against Garcia Wednesday in a summons.

Drug case: Melanie Dawn Crowe, 40, of 40 Arch St., Vestaburg, was charged by city police with possessing three stamp bags of heroin and 199 empty stamp bags after a traffic stop about 6:10 p.m. Sunday in front of Chess Park, court records show. She also is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended or revoked license. District Judge Mark Wilson issued the charges Wednesday in a summons.

Man charged: Daniel Lewis Sickman, 26, of 711 Park Way, Monongahela, is charged by city police with fleeing from police, flight, obstruction and driving under the influence of alcohol, court records show. Police accuse Sickman of speeding off from a traffic stop about 1:40 a.m. July 28 at 12th and Chess streets. District Judge Mark Wilson issued the case by summons Wednesday.

Men wanted: Joshua Michael Loutitt, 25, and Joshua Adam Bauer, 22, both of 630 Geary St., Monongahela, are charged by city police with illegal possession of a firearm, conspiracy and public drunkenness, court records show. Police accuse them of being in a vehicle when several rounds were fired from a .380-caliber handgun into a hillside about 12:45 a.m. July 22 in the 1100 block of Chess Street. Bauer also is charged with illegally possessing five doses of Clonazepam. District Judge Mark Wilson signed a warrant Tuesday for their arrests.

SOUTH STRABANE

Vehicle break-in: A man who lives on Colonial Heights Boulevard told police Tuesday someone had entered his Jeep Wrangler overnight. He reported nothing stolen, but said items were scatted between his property and a neighbor’s. He was unsure whether he had locked the vehicle, but said it had a soft top that would have allowed someone to get into it even if it were locked.

Theft reported: Someone reportedly stole $3 in change from an unlocked car that was parked on the 1000 block of Magnolia Drive early Tuesday morning.

WASHINGTON

Stolen phone: A woman reported her smartphone, which is worth about $125, was stolen when she left it on the counter at CVS on West Beau Street.

Cash stolen: A woman from the 600 block of Beech Street told city police Tuesday morning someone had stolen $1,200 in cash for her rent, plus another $10 or $20 and an ashtray, from her car while it was parked in front of her home overnight. Someone also rifled through two other family members’ cars, but reportedly took nothing. All three vehicles had been left unlocked, and there were no signs of a break-in. An officer reported someone appeared to have rummaged through two other vehicles on the same block.