Police beat May 24
Golf bag, clubs stolen: Andrew Papak of 60 W. Pike St. told Canonsburg police Thursday that his golf bag containing a full set of Wilson clubs, fishing rod, tackle box, cologne and health insurance cards were stolen from his vehicle. He is not certain if the vehicle was locked.
Parent assault alleged: Donald Lee Wright Jr., 24, of 529 McGovern Road was arrested Thursday by Chartiers police after he allegedly shoved his mother, Susan Wright, to the floor and grabbed his father, Donald Wright Sr., by the throat and choked him. Police said the confrontation began when his mother questioned him about his alleged drug use. He was arraigned before District Judge David Mark on a charge of aggravated assault and two counts of simple assault. He was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond.
Firearm, receiving charges: John Eugene Boyer, 70, of 35 Reed Lane, Hanover, was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Gary Havelka on charges of having a shotgun with an altered identification number and receiving stolen property for allegedly having another gun that had been reported stolen. State police said they found the weapon when they went to his home looking for a suspect in another case. Police removed 55 weapons from the home. Boyer was placed in Washington County jail on $5,000 bond.
Drug charges: Misty Shider, 35, of Coal Center, and Timothy Janitor, 26, of Bentleyville, were charged Friday by California police with possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia, conspiracy and disorderly conduct stemming from an April 12 incident on Dally Road, Long Branch. According to police, Janitor called them for a medical emergency after Shider reportedly overdosed in his vehicle. Police said heroin was found hidden on Shider at the hospital, and drug paraphernalia was found in his vehicle. Charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Joshua Kanalis.
Threats, intimidation charges: Ryan Johnston, 24, of Pittsburgh, was charged Wednesday by McDonald police after reportedly posting derogatory and threatening comments on Facebook directed at a McDonald man last October. Charges of terroristic threats, ethnic intimidation and harassment will be sent by summons from the office of Senior District Judge Jay Dutton.
Receiving, heroin charges: William A. Berdine, 35, of 455 Ewing St., Washington, was charged Thursday by North Franklin police with receiving stolen property, possession of heroin and paraphernalia and traffic violations after a traffic stop. Police determined the license plate on the vehicle he was driving had been stolen when he was stopped in the 1300 block of West Chestnut St. They said suspected heroin and paraphernalia were found. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Two charged: Richard Lee Kaufman Jr., 39, of Manheim, Lancaster County, and Joseph A. Getsy, 49, of Aliquippa, were charged Friday by North Franklin police with unsworn falsification and lying on an application to purchase a firearm. Kaufman is accused of giving the false information last December, while Getsy is accused of giving false information Feb. 12.
Tequila stolen: Three people entered the Wine and Spirits store at 3929 Washington Road, McMurray, at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, and a women concealed a half gallon of tequila in her purse, township police said. The tequila is valued at $39. The theft was reported at 10:56 a.m. Thursday. The three, two women and one man, were seen leaving the parking lot in a gold sport utility vehicle.
Identity theft: A resident of the 100 block of Shoreline Drive told police at 2:47 p.m. Thursday that her federal income tax return was rejected. The woman is an employee of UPMC, and her information was hacked and used to file another return, police said.
Drivers identified: South Strabane police have identified the drivers involved in the head-on crash about 4:20 p.m. Tuesday on Locust Avenue near Nannie Street. Police said John McLaughlin, 44, of 114 Green St., Houston, crashed into a car driven by Donald Austin, 67, of 34 Brehm Road, North Strabane Township. McLaughlin was taken to Washington Hospital, where police said blood was drawn to determine his alcohol level. Austin was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. The road was closed for about two hours. South Strabane firefighters assisted at the scene.
DUI alleged in crash: Ryan McClenathan, 24, of 130 Johnson Road, Washington, will be charged by Washington police with driving under the influence of alcohol after crashing his vehicle into a utility pole about 2:15 a.m. Friday in the 600 block of South Main Street. The vehicle flipped on its side. Wires were brought down, and West Penn Power was notified. Police said McClenathan’s blood-alcohol content was almost double the 0.08 percent limit presumed for intoxication. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.