Police Beat March 1
DUI crash: John Edward Bird, 56, of 203 Woodburn Road, Claysville, was charged Tuesday by state police with driving under the influence of alcohol, careless driving, reckless driving, not having insurance and failure to stay in his lane after crashing his vehicle Feb. 12 into trees in the 1000 block of South Sunset Beach Road, Buffalo. Police said his blood alcohol content was more than three times the 0.08 limit presumed for intoxication. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
Disorderly house: James Randal Taylor, III, 20, of Pittsburgh, will be charged by California police with violating the borough’s disorderly house ordinance after he allegedly failed to listen to warnings by an officer to keep the noise down on the balcony of his apartment at 224 Third St., Friday.
Identity stolen: Nicholas Wilson of Canonsburg told borough police Monday he was unable to file his federal income tax electronically because the Internal Revenue Service rejected it, claiming it had already been filed. He told police someone used his information.
Access device fraud: Ashleigh Lynn Dugan, 31, of 991 Weirich Ave., Canton, was charged Thursday by state police with access device fraud for allegedly using her late grandmother’s credit and debit cards without her grandfather’s permission. The charge was sent by summons from the office of District Judge David Mark.
Windshield broken: August Alexy, 180 Arden Road, told Chartiers police Friday the windshield of his vehicle was broken by a vandal.
Woman charged: Kristen Hope Brown, 25, who last lived at 31 Washington St., Cokeburg, is charged with access device fraud over allegations she used a family member’s credit card to make $757 in unauthorized purchases between Dec. 1 and 5, court records show. District Judge Curtis Thompson issued a warrant for her arrest last week.
Two charged: Christopher James Grimm, 26, of 67 N. Liberty St., West Alexander, and Joel Durbin, 26, of 175 Main St., West Alexander, were charged last week by Donegal police with theft after they allegedly took $20 from a West Alexander woman, telling her they needed it for gasoline and their boss would pay them. Police said they do not work at the West Virginia restaurant as they claimed. The money was not returned. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
Man wanted: John Wesley Waller III, 33, who last lived at 2130 E. National Pike, Scenery Hill, is charged by state police with three counts of robbery and one count each of theft, simple assault, harassment and criminal mischief, court records show. Police accuse Waller of luring Nathan Ross to his residence about 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4, where he allegedly punched Ross, beat him with a stick and caused $895 in damages to his vehicle’s hood and windshield. Waller also is accused of stealing Ross’ boots and cellphone. District Judge Curtis Thompson signed a warrant last week for Waller’s arrest.
Faces charges: Jerry W. Winkleblech, 37, of 320 Donnan Ave., Washington, will be charged by North Strabane police with DUI after crashing his vehicle in the 100 block of Conklin Road Monday afternoon. Police said he was driving west when he passed a stopped vehicle, went into the yard at 105 Conklin and hit several shrubs and front steps. Police were later called by the towing company. Winkelblech reportedly passed out and was unresponsive. Police said he was given Narcan. When he was awake, he was asked what he had taken and he reportedly admitted to using heroin before the crash and threw the stamp bags and needle out the window, police said. He was taken to Canonsburg Hospital, where blood was drawn. He was not injured in the crash.
Shoplifting alleged: Police charged Manuel J. Recasens, 33, of 141 Chess St., Monongahela, by summons Monday with two counts each of retail theft and theft by deception. A Walmart loss prevention officer told police Recasens allegedly entered the store Feb. 7 and Feb. 8 and returned merchandise he hadn’t paid for at the customer service desk in exchange for gift cards worth about $300.
Charges filed: Police said a Walmart loss prevention officer told them Leslie L. Stipa Jr., 36, of 34 Marion Villa, Washington Township, took items from the sporting goods section at Walmart Jan. 12 and left the store without paying for them. Two people police described as “elderly females” returned a short time later with the same items and returned them in exchange for a gift card worth $80. Stipa was charged by summons Monday with retail theft and theft by deception.
Money stolen: Employees of Circle K. 701 W. Chestnut St., told Washington police Monday a former employee stole about $4,500 by reportedly ringing up beer sales, voiding the purchases and pocketing the money. Charges are pending, police said.
Vehicles egged: Washington police said six vehicles were hit with eggs on Bruce Street Monday. Police received a call about one vehicle and discovered the others had been hit.
Possession charge: Shantye R. Brown, 36, of 409 First St., Monessen, was charged by Washington police Monday with driving with a suspended license and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. According to the complaint, two baggies of suspected heroin were found on Brown after a vehicle stop Feb. 6 at the intersection of Sumner and Hallam avenues. Charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Stolen plate: Melanie Anderson, 26, of 475 Addison Ave., Washington, was charged by Washington police with receiving stolen property. Anderson was driving a vehicle Oct. 4 with a license plate that was reported stolen. Charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Resisting charge: Ashley L. Fields, 28, of 486 Ewing St., Washington, was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after a domestic incident Friday. According to Washington police, Fields refused to obey commands, yelled obscenities and would not cooperate when officers tried to place her in handcuffs after an argument with her mother. She allegedly kicked the windows of the police cruiser when she was taken into custody. Charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Charged in theft: Stephanie Sisley, 25, and Brandon Kerik, 33, both of Daisytown, were charged last week with theft by state police after they allegedly stole a television from a home on Pike Run Drive, West Pike Run, and then fled while Sisley was baby-sitting for the victim. Sisley also was charged with endangering the welfare of children. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Curtis Thompson.
Escapes injury: Cody Levine, 22, of Scenery Hill, escaped injury Saturday morning when his car went off California Drive near Scenic Drive, West Pike Run, went over an embankment and hit a tree. The car continued to slide down the embankment before coming to a stop.