Police beat Dec. 31
Drug charge: State police charged Jeffrey W. Irwin, 29, of 3 Liberty St., Bentleyville, with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after he allegedly overdosed on heroin at the residence Dec. 2. Irwin was arraigned Monday night by District Judge Gary Havelka and taken to Washington County jail on $35,000 bond.
Computer stolen: A laptop computer worth about $3,200 was stolen Monday afternoon from a residence at 406 Old West Road in Bentleyville, state police said.
Disorderly conduct: California police said they cited Ian Wibble, 25, for disorderly conduct after he allegedly fired a pistol behind his West Malden Drive residence about 9:30 p.m. Dec. 22.
Woman jailed: Brittany Bujanowski, 27, of 240 Sullivan St., Monongahela, is charged by township police with theft, after being accused of stealing $556 from a fundraiser by not turning in her orders in a case police received about 2 p.m. Nov. 11. She is in Washington County jail on $5,000 bond set Monday by District Judge Mark Wilson.
Car crashes into creek: A driver escaped injury Tuesday morning when he lost control of his car in Chartiers and crashed into a creek, township police said. Sean Swecker, 41, of Beverly, W.Va., was driving north in the 500 block of Western Avenue when he struck the berm and tried to regain control before hitting ice at the entrance to Allegheny Ludlum, police said. His car then catapulted off a small bridge at the entrance and into the creek shortly before 8 a.m., police said. Western Avenue remained open while crews removed Swecker’s car from the creek.
Assault charge: Taylor Jayne Easterday, 22, of 1328 Overlook Terrace, Donora, is charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment after borough police said she tried to strangle her boyfriend in her apartment about 9 p.m. Monday. She was arraigned by District Judge Gary Havelka and taken to Washington County jail on $25,000 bond.
Theft charge: Jesse Allen Kuhel, 21, of 523 First St., Charleroi, was arrested Monday on a charge of receiving stolen property after Donora police said he withdrew money from a borough woman’s bank account between Oct. 4 and 31. District Judge Mark Wilson arraigned Kuhel Monday, and he is free on $5,000 bond.
Cellphone stolen: Donora police charged Brandy Gaito, 26, of 120 McKean Ave., with theft after she allegedly stole a cellphone worth about $500 from a borough resident Dec. 22. She was arraigned Tuesday by District Judge Mark Wilson and taken to the Washington County jail on $5,000 bond.
PFA violation: East Bethlehem police charged Brad W. Hutchinson, 34, of 116 Black Dog Hollow Road, with violating a protection-from-abuse order after he allegedly texted his ex-wife, asking to meet with her Monday afternoon. District Judge Gary Havelka arraigned Hutchinson and he was taken to Washington County jail on $5,000 bond.
Simple assault charge: Michael Hoffer II, 25, of Greensburg, was charged with simple assault and harassment after Charleroi Regional police said he punched his brother several times in the head while at 540 Center Ave. in North Charleroi about 6:30 a.m. Friday. Hoffer is free on $35,000 bond following his arraignment by District Judge Larry Hopkins.
Phone scam: South Strabane police are warning of a phone scam targeting elderly people after an 87-year-old Crestvue Drive woman agreed to wire a caller $300 in a lottery scheme. The woman’s relatives reported the theft to township police Monday.