Police Beat Jan. 26
BUFFALO
Charged in crash: Sharidan A. Pritt, 43, of Fisher, W.Va., was charged this week by state police with leaving the scene of an accident, following too closely and failure to render aid after he allegedly crashed his rig into another vehicle in a construction zone on Interstate 70, Buffalo, near the Taylorstown exit, on Sept. 9. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
Driver charged: Sean Allen Beichner, 23, of Greensburg, was charged this week by state police with driving under the influence of alcohol, not having insurance and failure to stay in his lane after his pickup truck went off Interstate 70 eastbound near the Taylorstown exit, Buffalo, on Jan. 19 and got stuck in a snowbank. Police said his blood-alcohol content was more than double the 0.08 percent limit at which intoxication is presumed. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
CALIFORNIA
Assault arrest: Michael Placek, 57, of 1038 Pike Run Drive, Coal Center, was arrested Wednesday night by California police after he allegedly assaulted his wife during a confrontation at their home. He is accused of grabbing her by the throat and pushing her against a kitchen wall. Placek was arraigned before District Judge Traci McDonald on charges of harassment and simple assault. He was placed in Washington County Jail on $10,000 bond.
CANONSBURG
Drug arrest: Kristina Rochelle Metz, 29, of 501 Euclid Ave., Canonsburg, was arrested Wednesday by a detective with the Washington County Drug Task Force on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver crack and possession of paraphernalia. Metz, who was taken into custody during a traffic stop near her home, allegedly sold the drug to a confidential informant at her home earlier this month. She was arraigned before District Judge Traci McDonald and placed in Washington County Jail on $25,000 bond.
CHARLEROI
Man jailed: Calvin Max Kovalchuk, 29, of 1013 1/2 Lower Meadow Ave., Charleroi, was placed in Washington County Jail on a state parole violation warrant that was served about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday at his residence, court records show. Charleroi Regional police also charged Kovalchuk with possessing two empty heroin stamp bags that morning. District Judge Larry Hopkins set bond at $5,000.
EAST FINLEY
Theft, fraud charges: Cody W. Starkey, 32, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, was charged by state police with theft and access device fraud. He is accused of stealing a debit card from a co-worker at their East Finley workplace and using it to make purchases of $59.12 and $48.07 at a market in Prosperity on Dec. 27.
MONESSEN
Man jailed: Bryan Harris, 20, of 700 First St., Charleroi, was arrested on a warrant Wednesday charging him with fleeing from police and a string of traffic violations stemming from a police pursuit in the city about 5:40 p.m. Dec. 1, court records show. He was placed in Westmoreland County Jail on $10,000 bond set by District Judge Joseph Dalfonso.
NORTH STRABANE
Charged in crash: Patricia Ann Markovic, 48, of McKeesport, was charged this week by North Strabane police with driving under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of a crash after an accident Sunday in a parking garage at the Meadows Casino. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.
DUI alleged in crash: William J. Yarbrough Jr., 48, of 318 Greenside Ave., Canonsburg, was charged this week by North Strabane police with driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and traffic violations after a hit-and-run crash Jan. 1 near the intersection of Racetrack Road and Meadowlands Boulevard. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.
ROSTRAVER
Warrant signed: Taryll Matthew Skaggs, 42, whose address is unknown, is wanted by Rostraver Township police on charges of stalking, robbery, theft, receiving stolen property and simple assault, court records show. Police accuse Skaggs of grabbing his ex-girlfriend, Michele Ewing, pulling her out of her vehicle and stealing her cellphone when she arrived for work about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday at Holiday Inn Express, 181 Finley Road. Police said Skaggs followed her around the building for several hours and stole $278 from the cash drawer before fleeing from the business. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso signed a warrant Thursday for Skaggs’ arrest.
Woman charged: Darchelle Barb Ethridge, 19, of 509 S. Central Ave., Canonsburg, is charged by Rostraver Township police with trespassing at 123 Mathews Road about 2:15 p.m. Jan. 19, court records show. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso issued the charge Tuesday by summons.
Drug charges: Michael James Russo, 37, of 819 Lincoln Ave., Charleroi, is charged by Rostraver Township police with possession of a small amount of crack and possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from a traffic stop on Tyrol Boulevard about 5 p.m. Jan. 20, court records show. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso issued the charges in a summons Tuesday.
SOUTH STRABANE
Faces more charges: Nicu Sorin Pantelica, 28, of Houston, Texas, was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Jesse Pettit on additional charges of theft and receiving stolen property filed by state police. He is accused of withdrawing $500 at an automated teller machine outside First Federal Bank of Greene County, South Strabane, on Dec. 19. Pantelica was arrested last month by South Strabane police on theft and other charges for allegedly using a card skimmer. Pettit set bond on the new charges at $5,000.
Driver charged: Charles A. Steadman, 19, of 993 Locust Ave., Washington, was charged this week by South Strabane police with DUI, being a minor driving under the influence of alcohol and not having insurance after he allegedly drove through a yard on Zediker Station Road and hit a tree Dec. 3. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.
TWILIGHT
Charged in crash: Dennis Dewayne Morrison, 41, of Fairburn, Ga., is charged by state police with driving under the influence of marijuana and cocaine after the tractor-trailer he was driving allegedly sideswiped a car on Interstate 70 east about 6:30 p.m. July 20. Morrison also is charged with failure to notify police of a vehicle accident, causing an accident involving personal injury, duty to give information and render aid, and causing an accident that resulted in property damage. District Judge Larry Hopkins forwarded the case Wednesday to Washington County’s DUI court.
WASHINGTON
Harassment alleged: Sam Morgan, 62, of 72 Northview Court, Washington, will be charged with harassment after he allegedly threatened Charles Kurowski, 65, of Washington, during an incident Tuesday at the U.S. Post Office at 153 Jefferson Ave., Washington police said. Morgan also allegedly acted as though he was going to hit Kurowski, police said.
WEST MIDDLETOWN
DUI alleged in crash: Russell Bonar, 56, of Wellsburg, W.Va., was charged Tuesday by McDonald police with driving under the influence of alcohol and careless driving after he allegedly crashed into another vehicle in a parking lot at 125 E. Maiden St., West Middletown, on Dec. 24. Police said Bonar’s blood-alcohol content was more than double the 0.08 percent limit at which intoxication is presumed. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.