Police Beat Nov. 9
BUFFALO
Two hurt: William Wentzel, 23, of Wheeling, W.Va., and a passenger in his vehicle, Michael Simons, 28, of Triadelphia, W.Va., were hurt when Wentzel’s vehicle left Interstate 70 east, struck the end of a guardrail and overturned at 4:46 a.m. Wednesday, state police said. They were taken to Washington Hospital with minor injuries.
CALIFORNIA
Two charged: Nicholas Joseph Bayer, 19, of Canonsburg, and Tristan Taylor Anderson, 21, of Youngsville, Warren County, were charged this week by California police after they allegedly were stumbling down Third Street while drinking an alcoholic beverage during the early morning hours of Nov. 2. Bayer was charged with false identification to police, minor carrying false identification and underage drinking. Anderson is charged with violating the borough ordinance for having an open container of alcohol. Charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Joshua Kanalis.
MONESSEN
Drug charge: Monessen police said they charged Barry L. Scott, 59, of Reed Avenue with disorderly conduct, drug possession and possessing paraphernalia after finding 10 plastic bags of suspected heroin and a glass pipe in a jacket Scott claimed was his. Charges were sent by summons Nov. 2 from District Judge Joseph Dalfonso’s office.
Bad checks charges: Monessen police charged James McDonough, 41, of McKean Avenue in Charleroi, with theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, access device fraud, bad checks and receiving stolen property. A detective alleged McDonough defrauded First Valley Community Federal Credit Union of some $30,000 between November 2016 and last March, after McDonough discovered a flaw in the bank’s automated phone payment system. McDonough allegedly found he could still use his credit card account even after phone payments to the account had been rejected. Charges were filed Tuesday in District Judge Joseph Dalfonso’s office.
NORTH FRANKLIN
Property damaged: Danny Lee Tittle, 25, of Mt. Perry, Ohio, will be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after he allegedly did “doughnuts” in a grassy area behind the Ramada Inn, 1170 W. Chestnut St., in the early morning hours of Nov. 3, damaging the grass and wooden posts, North Franklin police said. He reportedly refused to submit to a blood-alcohol test. His passenger, Shane Charles Fluharty, 31, of Philo, Ohio, will be charged with public drunkenness. Both had been staying at the motel.
Two face charges: Randall B. Confort, 40, of 155 Bellvue Ave., and Brandon W. Wilkins, 27, of 125 Bellvue, face charges stemming from a Nov. 6 disturbance in their neighborhood, North Franklin police said. Police said they were responding to the disturbance when they saw Confort driving his motorcycle erratically, passing a vehicle that had stopped for the responding officer. Police said he was intoxicated and refused to submit to a blood-alcohol test. Police plan to charge him with driving under the influence of alcohol and traffic violations. Wilkins will be charged with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness after a reported confrontation with a neighbor. Police said Confort and Wilkins also were involved in a confrontation earlier that day.
NOTTINGHAM
Theft reported: Residents of Vista Lane told state police they saw a man and woman in a burgundy Ford Ranger stealing trash cans on Oct. 30.
WASHINGTON
Trespass charge: Scott Marecele, 53, of 485 Allison Ave., Washington, was charged by Washington police with criminal trespass after he allegedly refused to leave Washington Hospital Tuesday when asked by security. He started to leave when police asked him, but then sat down and refused to leave, police said.