Police Beat April 7
Bus crash: No injuries were reported when a Canon-McMillan school bus and a car crashed Tuesday afternoon at East College Street and Greenside Avenue. Canonsburg police said the bus driven by Michael Zaricki, 65, of 604 Moore Ave., Canonsburg, was turning left onto East College from Greenside when the bus collided with a car driven by Anthony Cespites, 43, of 216 Grace Ave., Canonsburg. There were eight children and a teacher on the bus. The students were checked by the school nurse at Canonsburg Middle School.
Tools stolen: Brad Ghilani of 311 Forrest Drive told Canonsburg police Tuesday hand tools were stolen from his work truck while it was parked at his home.
Three face charges: Timothy Pendland, 29, and Jacob Riggans, 30, both of 2330 S Bridge Road, Washington, and Michael Steele, 46, of 230 Charles St., Canton, all face charges stemming from an altercation early Wednesday at Steele’s home, state police said. Pendland and Riggans will be charged with simple assault for allegedly hitting Steele in the face. Steele will be charged with harassment, police said. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge David Mark.
Corruption charge: Johnathan M. Wood, 20, of Jacobs Creek, Westmoreland County, was charged last week by Donegal police with corruption of minors for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a 14-year-old Donegal girl. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
Unsworn falsification charge: Nicholas D. Farine, 31, of Pittsburgh, was charged Monday by state police with illegal sale or transfer of a firearm and unsworn falsification for allegedly putting false information on an application to purchase a firearm last October, state police said. Farine, whose application was denied, was attempting to purchase a pistol at Cabela’s in West Virginia, but since it was out of state, he had to go ARH Sport Shop, Route 40, Donegal, which was the nearest gun dealership in Pennsylvania, to fill out an application. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
Theft, trespass charges: Rebecca A. Henderson, 36, of 253 Fox Road, Independence, was charged by state police with theft and criminal trespass. She is accused of entering a camper owned by her stepbrother, Ronald Lee Rush, that was parked on her property and stealing a microwave, fishing pole and DVD player. The alleged incidents happened between Feb. 25 and March 17, police said. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
Accounts accessed: Two North Franklin residents told township police that information from their respective debit cards had been used to make purchases without their authorization. Stacy Bauer reported Friday her card information was used to make a purchase in Bentleyville. Erica Ola told police Sunday information from her card was used to make two purchases at a Walmart in Kittanning, Armstrong County.
Driver injured: Leah Burkett, 31, of West Newton, who was injured Tuesday afternoon when her vehicle struck a culvert off Route 519 before spinning across the road, told North Strabane police that she swerved to avoid hitting a rabbit. One witness told police Burkett was driving 100 mph before the crash, while another driver reported she passed him just before the crash. Police said blood was drawn from Burkett to determine whether she was under the influence when she crashed. She was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Escapes injury: John Holland, 75, of 668 Woodland Road, Canonsburg, and Carol Roman, 61, of 11 Huber Road, Bentleyville, escaped injury when police say Holland pulled into the path of Roman’s vehicle while coming from the Interstate 79 off-ramp to make a left turn onto Route 519.
Theft arrest: Meggan Ann Demo, 25, of Hiller, was arrested Tuesday night by South Strabane police on a charge of retail theft after she allegedly stole items valued at $160 from Kohl’s, Strabane Square. She was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka and released on her own recognizance.
Vehicle damaged: Robert Nelson of Canton Township told South Strabane police Tuesday his vehicle was damaged while it was parked at 997 N. Main St.
Driver cited: Albert L. Burkholder, 28, of Bowling Green, Ky., was charged by South Strabane police with failure to obey traffic-control devices when he apparently missed the road-closed signs Tuesday and drove his tractor-trailer up Cameron Road to the point where it is closed for construction before East Beau Street. Police said he knocked over a stop sign as he backed down and tried to turn around at Willowbrook Drive.
Paraphernalia charge: Daniel C. Dillie, 29, of Wampum, Lawrence County, will be charged by Washington police with possession of drug paraphernalia after police said they found him with empty stamp bags believed to have contained heroin and syringes in his vehicle at the rear of 175 McCarrell Ave. Tuesday afternoon. Police were investigating a report of suspicious activity.