Police beat March 19
Assault arrest: Charleroi Regional police on Friday charged John Jeffrey Kossar, 45, of North Charleroi, with simple assault and disorderly conduct in connection with an incident at his home on Conrad Avenue. Kossar’s girlfriend told police Kossar kicked her in the back, grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the wall, trapping her behind the bedroom door before he left. Kossar was arraigned before District Judge Ethan Ward and placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond.
Drug arrest: Brandon Perine, 22, of 101 Linden Ave., Monessen, is charged by city police with possessing four stamp bags of heroin during a traffic stop in the 500 block of Schoonmaker Avenue about 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, court records show. Perine is in Westmoreland County jail on $2,500 bond set Thursday by District Judge Joseph Dalfonso.
Vehicle overturns: The driver of a vehicle that crashed into a utility pole in the 2900 block of Washington Road Thursday told police he fell asleep behind the wheel. Robert Carney, 28, of New Martinsville, W.Va., was driving north on Washington Road when his vehicle drifted into the southbound lanes, went up an embankment and struck a utility pole near Cagni Drive before overturning, Peters police said. Carney received minor injuries but declined treatment.
Retail theft charges: South Strabane police charged Stephen Todd Martello, 52, of Knox Avenue, Monessen, with one count of defiant trespass and two counts of retail theft following an incident at Walmart, Trinity Point. A store loss-prevention officer told police Martello set off an alarm when he tried to leave the store with $349 in merchandise Thursday. Martello reportedly was banned from Walmart stores after a previous incident at another location.
Theft charges: Washington police Thursday charged Larry Young, 39, of 244 Tyler St. with two counts of theft. Young’s sister, Rachelle Flanagan, told Washington police Young took her car Thursday while it was parked outside her Victoria Street house. Police said they found the car at Young’s home, but without its license plate. Young was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger and placed in Washington County jail on $5,000 bond.
Car stolen: Albert Cargnello told Washington police his 2007 Chevy sedan was stolen Thursday morning from outside his home on East Hamilton Street.