Jan 2, 2019 5 min read

CALIFORNIA

Assault charges: Mistie Dawn Miller, 18, of 128 Wood St., California, was charged by California police with two counts of simple assault and two counts of harassment for allegedly slapping her boyfriend in the chest and the eye early Saturday morning. Police said the man had a red, swollen eye and a visible handprint on his chest following the altercation, which happened about 4:30 a.m.

CANONSBURG

Public drunkenness: Canonsburg police responded early Sunday morning to the 100 block of East College Street for a report of a man on a porch, banging on a door and throwing things. Police said that about 2:30 a.m., they found Tony Lee Helmick, 27, unable to sit up or speak coherently, due to intoxication. Police said Helmick attacked one of the three officers, grabbing him by the throat and punching him. Another officer then punched Helmick to stop his attack. Police handcuffed Helmick and had him transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later released to his mother. Police said they planned to cite Helmick for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Attempted suicide: Canonsburg police stopped a possible suicide Saturday night, after a Canonsburg man told his family that he was on a bridge and going to jump to end his life. Police searched bridges in the area and found the man sitting on the Bashioum Memorial Bridge, his feet dangling over the edge. When police arrived the man told them not to get close or he would jump. While two officers distracted the man, a third officer sneaked up on him and pulled him away from the edge and onto the sidewalk. The man was taken to a nearby hospital.

CECIL

Drug charges: Fredrick Markovitz, 35, of 24 Walnut St., Ellsworth, was charged by Cecil Township police with possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia following a traffic stop Saturday afternoon in the 300 block of Muse Bishop Road. Police said Markovitz was a passenger in the vehicle and had a backpack with him that contained a large jar of marijuana, a box of sandwich bags and a digital scale.

SOUTH STRABANE

Retail theft charges: South Strabane Township police responded to Kohl’s on Route 19 Dec. 22 for the report of a theft. Police said Ashley Loar and Sarah Kniha stole nearly $700 in merchandise, which was returned to the store. Loar had a warrant for her arrest, police said, and Kniha was found to be in possession of suspected Subutex pills, along with a mirror, straw and razor blade. Police said both women would be charged with retail theft and conspiracy. Kniha will additionally be charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

Crash: Early Monday morning, South Strabane police found a car in the median near Plaza Azteca restaurant in the Trinity Point shopping center. The car had been driven into a tree and other landscaping. Police said they found Benjamin Berdine, the driver, walking on Trinity Point Road near Aldi about 3:15 a.m. Police said Berdine admitted the car was his. Police said they smelled alcohol on Berdine, who had trouble completing a field-sobriety test. His blood-alcohol content was 0.138 percent, police said. Police arrested him for driving under the influence.

Theft: South Strabane police are looking for a man who was seen on surveillance video stealing four televisions from Walmart at Trinity Point Saturday and Sunday. Police said the suspect drove a Ford truck.

Crash: South Strabane police responded Dec. 27 to Maple Avenue near Shirls Avenue for the report of a crash. Police said Michael Amos, of the 1200 block of Wilna Street, was driving in that area when he struck another vehicle and fled. Police said they found Amos outside his residence, crouched down by the side of his vehicle. Police said he was unable to do a field-sobriety test or a breath test, due to his level of intoxication. Police said DUI charges will be filed by summons.

Retail theft: South Strabane police responded to Kohl’s Christmas Eve morning for the report of a retail theft. Police said Tamara Stewart, 57, allegedly walked out of the store about 9:45 a.m. with a cart full of $534 worth of merchandise. The store’s loss-prevention team tried to stop Stewart in the parking lot and were able to retrieve the cart. Police said Stewart left the cart, saying, “I am not going to jail today,” and fled. Stewart faces a charge of retail theft, which will be sent by summons.

Drugs found: South Strabane Township police responded to Wong’s Wok restaurant Dec. 23 after an employee reported finding seven stamp bags of heroin in the trash of the men’s bathroom.

WASHINGTON

Criminal mischief: Washington police said they will file criminal mischief charges against Beth Trimble, 52, of Washington, after she allegedly spray-painted “Merry Christmas D” and a Christmas tree on the cement in front of the jail and on the wall of the Courthouse Square building facing the jail Christmas Eve. Police said Trimble had called her son, Daniel Madden Jr., at the jail Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and asked if he saw the graffiti. Police said county workers tried using a pressure washer on the paint, but it wouldn’t come off.