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2/22/2012
BENTLEYVILLE

Disorderly conduct charge: Tyler Steven Carrell, 21, of Burleson, Texas, was charged by Southwest Regional police with public drunkenness and disorderly conduct after he got into a verbal confrontation with officers who responded to a dispute at 101 Gosai Drive, Bentleyville, early Sunday.

CANONSBURG

Unauthorized use charge: A 16-year-old Canonsburg boy will be charged by borough police with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for reportedly taking a car owned by his grandfather, Melvin Lee Hagan, 143 W. College, without permission Monday.

The boy, who is on probation for previously taking the vehicle, was placed in a juvenile detention center.

Warrant arrest: Martin Barltebaugh, 25, of Mc-Kees Rocks, was taken into custody on an Allegheny County bench warrant after Hillary Bailey, 524 Valley View Terrace, complained to Canonsburg police he refused to leave her home and had consumed alcohol belonging to her and her friends.

She told police she allowed him to stay with her for a few days after he had been asked to leave a halfway house in Washington. Police saw him on Dawson Street, and he ran. When they apprehended him, they had to use a Taser to subdue him. He was placed in the Washington County jail on the warrant.

CANTON

Assault charge: Wray Edward Clark Jr., 44, of 362 Beacon Ave., Canton, was arrested Monday by state police on charges of simple assault and harassment for allegedly choking his girlfriend, Judy Schrontz. He also reportedly threatened to burn down her home.

Clark was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller and released with orders to have no contact with Schrontz.

DONEGAL

Escapes injury: Sean Sarge, 44, of New Stanton, Westmoreland County, escaped injury Tuesday when his pickup truck went off Young Road in Donegal and rolled into a creek, Donegal police said.

The truck landed on its roof, and the cab filled about halfway with water. Police said Sarge was able to break a window and climb out.

HANOVER

Accidental fire: A state police marshal said a fire that damaged the home of Gary and Rochelle Havelka, Hanover, about noon Monday was accidental. The fire did about $50,000 in damage, mostly to the roof, police said.

NEW EAGLE

Assault arrest: Travis Scott Abbott, 19, of 175 First Ave., New Eagle, was arrested about midnight Saturday by Monongahela police on charges of simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.

He is accused of slapping his 17-year-old girlfriend, Heaven Cafasso, in the face during an argument over an video game system. He reportedly then pulled her down the stairs and forced her outside their home, locking her out.

Abbott was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller and released with orders not to have contact with Cafasso.

NORTH FRANKLIN

Two arrested: Lawrence J. Cook Jr., 37, and Nicole Kent Cook, 29, both of 101 Iola St., were arrested Tuesday morning by North Franklin police.

Lawrence Cook was charged with unlawful restraint for allegedly forcibly keeping her in the bedroom when a constable arrived to serve her with warrants. Nicole Cook was charged with disorderly conduct after she refused orders to stop antagonizing him.

The two also were arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger on charges filed over the weekend for allegedly fighting with each other. She was placed in the Washington County jail on a $5,000 percentage bond. He was placed in jail on $500 and $5,000 percentage bonds.

Driver faces charge: Mark S. Paletta, 22, of 60 Carl Ave., Eighty Four, faces a charge of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol after he was found early Saturday passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle at Southmont, 835 S. Main, North Franklin police said.

Police said the hood of his vehicle was smashed from a recent collision. Blood was drawn to determine if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Driver charged: Matthew Mox, 21, of 530 W. Chestnut St., Washington, was charged by North Franklin police with DUI after his vehicle hit fencing on property of Trinity Bible Church, 1350 Park Ave., Sunday night. His blood-alcohol content was almost 2 1/2 times the 0.08 percent limit presumed for intoxication.

Man arraigned: Brandon C. Barnickel, 27, of 164 Jollick Manor, was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Robert Redlinger on charges of receiving stolen property, criminal trespass and retail theft. According to police, Barnickel was trying to sell merchandise in the parking lot of the Long John Silver's restaurant at 1450 W. Chestnut St. Thursday, and when officers arrived, Barnickel fled and was apprehended at the rear of a residence on Franklin Farms Road. Barnickel had a car stereo system and full-motion TV wall mount, and he told police he purchased the merchandise at the Target store in South Strabane Township using a gift card and he was selling it for cash. However, Barnickel was unable to provide a receipt, and follow-up phone calls found Target does not carry those items. However, items matching their description were allegedly stolen from the Sears store at Washington Crown Center. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 29. Barnickel is being held in the Washington County jail on $5,000 bond.

NORTH STRABANE

Theft attempt: North Stabane police said an attempt was made to steal a metal grate from Chubbic Road over the weekend.

PETERS

Drug charge: James E. Taufer will be charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia following a traffic stop for an equipment violation at 12:12 a.m. Tuesday, township police said.

Taufer, 20, of Louisiana Avenue, Dormont, was stopped on West McMurray Road near Washington Road. Police said officers observed an herb grinder on the floor behind the driver's seat and detected an odor of marijuana. Police said there was a small bag of marijuana in the center console and a glass pipe also was found.

SOUTH STRABANE

Retail theft arrest: James Ernest Duerr Jr., 30, of Bellaire, Ohio, was arrested Saturday morning by South Strabane police on charges of retail theft, driving without a license and not having his vehicle registered after he tried to steal a television from Walmart, Trinity Point.

Duerr was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller and placed in the Washington County jail on $10,000 bond.

WASHINGTON

Criminal mischief

reported: Four vehicles were damaged by what appeared to be BBs or pellets at Westland Off Road Auto, 1105 Fayette St., police said. The vehicles were last seen undamaged Saturday. There were no witnesses, and a damage estimate was not available.

Disorderly conduct citation: Philip Stahlman, 34, of 39 N. Main St., Apt. 613, is accused of causing a disturbance Monday at the Cogo's convenience store at 501 Jefferson Ave., according to police. Stahlman was bleeding from the head and got in an argument with a store employee because he was bleeding all over the store and refused to leave. Stahlman then refused treatment because he said he was late for work. He will be cited for disorderly conduct.

Harassment reported: Linda Meeks, 50, of 340 1/2 E. Prospect told police Monday Eugene Andrews, 44, also of 340 1/2 E. Prospect, had punched her several times and kicked in a door. Andrews was cited for disorderly conduct and harassment, and Meeks was taken to the Washington County jail after a bench warrant against her was discovered.

Possession charges: Two officers were traveling on Hart Avenue Nov. 15 when they stopped to help two state constables serving a warrant on James Robert Farris, 19, of 150 Hart Ave., police said. While Farris was being taken into custody, an officer noticed two small suspected marijuana plants growing in plain view, along with an assortment of drug paraphernalia. He is being charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Charges are being issued by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.

Fleeing charge: Charles W. Schmalz, 70, of 350 Moon Road, is being charged with an accident involving injury or death after a car he was driving allegedly hit Patrick Foster, no age given, of 723 Linda Drive, Pittsburgh, while Foster was walking in the crosswalk at Main and Wheeling streets Jan. 26, police said. Foster was thrown onto the hood and landed on the ground. Schmalz then fled the scene.

Unauthorized use of a

vehicle: Noel Wayman, 43, was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Robert Redlinger on charges of using a vehicle belonging to Jonna Alderson of 990 Broad St. without her permission Dec. 3, police said. He is being held in the Washington County jail on $5,000 bond.

Latest Greene County: 2/21/2012
FRANKLIN

Disorderly conduct: James Edwin Orndoff Jr., 33, of Waynesburg, was arrested at 10 p.m. Saturday on charges he allegedly assaulted a 17-year old female at a residence in Wayne Village. Police said Orndoff was yelling and threatening residents in the general vicinity of the area. He was believed to be highly intoxicated, according to state police.

Items found: A cellphone, sweatshirt and winter cap found in the parking lot of Aldi's grocery store were turned in to state police Saturday. Anyone wishing to claim the items can call police at 724-627-6151.

DUI crash: State police arrested David Scott Hathaway, 32, of Carmichaels, after he crashed his vehicle near Garards Fort Road at 12:29 p.m. Feb. 16. Hathaway was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

JACKSON

Burglary reported: Kameron Ray Marisa, 46, of McMurray, told police someone forcibly entered a residence on Mt. Zion Church Road, causing damage and removing several items. The incident took place before 4 a.m. Sunday.

MONONGAHELA

Aggravated assault: Thomas Simpkins, 18, of Nemacolin, was charged by state police with aggravated assault after an altercation at the Penn Pitt School in Greensboro. Police said Simpkins, who is a student at the school, was causing a disturbance at 10:20 a.m. Feb. 15 by throwing trash and desks throughout a classroom. Joyce Cassarine, a teacher at Penn Pitt, confronted Simpkins. A verbal argument ensued, and Simpkins struck Cassarine, according to police.

RICHHILL

Hit-and-run: Jeffrey W. McConnell, 22, of Graysville, was charged with hit-and-run after backing his 1997 Ford F150 into a 2011 Nissan Frontier parked in front of the Stokes General Store and then fleeing, police said. The incident took place at noon Feb. 3.

PERRY

One-vehicle accident: State police said Juan R. Vasquez, 22, of Spraggs, failed to negotiate a turn on Shriver Hill Road at 1:50 p.m. Friday and lost control. After his vehicle went off the right edge of the road, Vasquez overcorrected, and his car crossed the roadway before going over an embankment and rolling over. Police said Vasquez was ejected from the car and suffered minor injuries. A passenger, Tyler J. Wilson, 19, of Mt. Morris, also suffered minor injuries, and neither Vasquez nor Wilson required medical treatment. Police said they were not wearing seat belts.



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