Police beat March 11
Couple jailed: Robert M. Merashoff, 44, and his wife, Michelle M. Merashoff, 43, both of 508 Horne Run Road, Amity, are charged by state police with simple assault and harassment stemming from an incident in their residence about 7:45 p.m. Sunday, court records show. They are free on $15,000 bonds set by District Judge Larry Hopkins.
Identity stolen: Don Dowler of 5 Highland Ave., Burgettstown, told McDonald police last week that his identity was stolen. He discovered the problem when his two cellphones stopped working. Verizon told police that a New York man used Dowler’s account information.
Mischief, harassment charges: Damon Tyler Porter, 24, of Tarentum, was charged by California police with criminal mischief, harassment, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct in connection with an alleged incident Thursday at the Porcupine Way home of his ex-girlfriend. He reportedly caused a disturbance and damaged her property. Charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Joshua Kanalis.
Assault arrest: John L. Kosek Jr., 45, of 123 1/2 E. College St., Canonsburg, was arrested early Sunday by Canonsburg police after he allegedly punched April O’Donnell, 53, in the face, breaking her glasses, during a confrontation at their home. While police were there, he allegedly hit her in the chest. Police also had been called to the home late Saturday. Police said Kosek struggled with officers as they tried to take him into custody. Kosek was arraigned before District Judge Larry Hopkins on charges of simple assault, harassment and resisting arrest. He was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond.
Pole damaged: State police said charges are pending in a hit-and-run crash Friday night after the driver fled during a traffic stop on McCarrell Avenue at Ewing Street, Canton. The driver of the white Ford F-150 pickup truck hit a fence and then crashed into a utility pole, shearing it off. Police said drug paraphernalia was found in the truck.
Assault on officers alleged: Anthony Joseph Neil, 25, of 2496 Washington Road, Upper St. Clair, was arraigned Monday via video from Allegheny County jail for allegedly assaulting two Cecil police officers who took him into custody last week on a felony bench warrant from Allegheny County. Township police went to a home at 3240 Millers Run Road, where they found Neil. Police said Neil was angry because officers would not let him change clothes, and he struggled with the two officers. Neil was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka on charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, simple assault, harassment and terroristic threats. Havelka set an additional $5,000 bond.
Credit card fraud: Two fleet cards owned by Killion and Sons, Morganza Road, were used without authorization between Dec. 13 and Feb. 28 to pump about $10,000 in fuel at various stations in Washington, Belle Vernon and Bentleyville, township police said. The unauthorized use was reported at 9:22 a.m. Friday.
Rig crashes: Lloyd Deacon, 62, of Riverdale, Ga., escaped injury early Monday when his tractor-trailer went off Interstate 70 westbound near the West Virginia border in Donegal and crashed 100 feet over an embankment, state police said. Claysville and West Alexander firefighters assisted at the scene.
Couple charged: Michael Lowe, 45, and Rebecca Henderson, 33, both of Avella, were arrested Saturday by state police after they allegedly assaulted each other during a confrontation at 283 Fox Road, Hopewell. They were arraigned before District Judge Larry Hopkins on charges of simple assault and harassment, and placed in Washington County jail on $15,000 bonds.
Faces charges: William R. Corwin, 27, of 189 Neely School Road, Avella, faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, careless driving and failure to notify police of a crash after reportedly wrecking his pickup truck Wednesday night on Scenic Drive, Independence. McDonald police said Corwin was not found in the wreckage of his pickup truck but was located later in a wooded area by Avella firefighters. He was taken to Canonsburg Hospital for treatment. Police said blood was drawn for a DUI test. Avella and West Middletown firefighters assisted.
Ex-girlfriend arrested: Carrie Ann Conaway, 27, of 7 Meriage St., McDonald, was arrested about 6 p.m. Friday by McDonald police after she allegedly punched her ex-boyfriend, Keith Blanchon of McDonald, during a confrontation inside Fox Hole Bar, 127 S. McDonald St. Police said the two had been arguing about custody issues regarding their son. She was arraigned before District Judge Larry Hopkins on charges of simple assault and harassment. She was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond.
Account accessed: Joy Orenbaun of 119 W. Lincoln Ave. told McDonald police last week that charges on her bank account were made in foreign countries, as well as the United States. First Commonwealth Bank’s fraud account department was notified.
Charges filed: Justin T. Tuite, 20, of 43 Interstate Drive, Claysville, is charged by township police in a summons filed Monday with possession of a small amount of marijuana, driving under the influence of marijuana and corruption of a minor, court records show. He is accused of sharing the drug with a 17-year-old prior to a traffic stop about 2:20 a.m. Feb. 18 in the 1300 block of West Chestnut Street.
Money stolen: Alberta M. McCartney of 1880 W. Chestnut St., Washington, told North Franklin police Wednesday that $335 was stolen from her coat pocket while she was working at Days Inn, West Chestnut Street.
Boy robbed: A 12-year-old Washington boy told North Franklin police that he was robbed by two men about 7:30 p.m. Friday at Washington Crown Center. He told police he was walking in the area outside the movie theater when two men started chasing him. The boy said they caught him, knocked him to the ground and stole his Nike Air Jordan shoes off his feet. They also stole his cellphone and $5. Township police found the shoes Saturday and returned them to the boy.
Casino theft: Tonya Kay Nudo, 40, of Connellsville, was charged Friday by state police at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino. She is accused of removing $253 in credits from a slot machine that had been played by Natalie Flickenger March 4. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.
Drug charges: Three men were charged with drug offenses following a traffic stop at 12:59 a.m. Monday in the 500 block of East Murray Road near the intersection with Bebout Road, township police said. A vehicle operated by Michael Carbonara, 20, of 123 Spring Brooke Drive, Venetia, was stopped after police said they observed his vehicle weaving. Carbonara admitted to smoking marijuana earlier, police said. Carbonara will be charged by summons with possession of paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuna. Passengers Matthew Buckley, 21, of 2575 Giant Oaks Drive, Upper St. Clair, and Ryan Tye, 20, of 104 Thousand Oaks Drive, Upper St. Clair, face the same charges.
Burglary: A used laptop was stolen during a burglary in the 100 block of Tanglewood Drive, township police said. If new, the laptop sells for $1,000, police said. Entry was made through a broken rear glass door, police said. The burglary was reported at 1:27 p.m. Sunday.
Man arrested: Ryan Casaday was placed in Washington County jail early Sunday following two incidents, one involving a domestic dispute and the other when he vandalized the holding cell at the police station, township police said. Casaday, 23, of 1005 Sheriff’s Court, was charged following a fight with his parents at 8:48 p.m. Saturday, when he allegedly struck his mother in her face with a pizza box, police said. For that incident, Casaday was charged with simple assault and terroristic threats. At 1:02 a.m. Sunday, Casaday was charged with institutional vandalism after he scratched an obscene word and symbols in the cell, urinated in a trash can he previously used when he became sick, and also smeared obscene images on a window, police said. Casaday was arraigned before District Judge Larry Hopkins and placed in jail on $25,000 bond.
Warrant arrest: Heather Ann Dillon, 36, of 1134 N. Branch Road, Robinson, was taken into custody Thursday in Imperial on drug charges filed by McDonald police stemming from an incident last November. She was arraigned in Allegheny County night court and placed in Allegheny County jail on $15,000 bond.
Charges filed: Neil Snedeker, 32, of 244 W. Main St., Houston, is charged by city police in a summons filed Monday with trespassing and criminal mischief, accused of breaking a kitchen window at 5:30 a.m. Feb. 23 to enter 1286 Sycamore St., court records show.
Nabbed in traffic stop: Michael J. Grinage, 48, of 110 1/2 Linn Ave., Washington, was held on a charge from the state of California following a traffic stop about 8:30 a.m. Monday at West Walnut and Victoria streets, court records show. He is in Washington County jail without bond, awaiting extradition to Los Angeles, Calif., where he is wanted for a probation violation.
Couple charged: Ralph and Lisa Waldschmidt of 890 Addison St., Washington, were charged by city police with hindering apprehension for allegedly shielding Kenneth Ward, Lisa Waldschmidt’s son, from police in their home Saturday. Charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Theft: Travis Donnell reported to city police that various tools, fuses and wires valued at $15,000 were stolen from his work truck between Friday night and Saturday afternoon in the 500 block of West Chestnut Street. Donnell told police he found two garbage bags filled with stripped wire coating and a pair of bolt cutters in his truck. Police are investigating.
Vandalism: Several people reported to city police that rocks were thrown at their vehicles Saturday and Sunday on Summerlea, Allison and Jefferson avenues. In two instances, victims told police they saw two boys running away. Police were unable to locate the suspects.