Police Beat April 4
BENTLEYVILLE
Driver charged: Rayvon Donta Smith, 25, of Walnut Grove, Miss., was charged last week by Bentleyville police with accidents involving unattended property, failure to notify police of an accident, criminal mischief, violating weight limits and traffic violations. Police said he was going west in the 100 block of Pierson Avenue on March 2 when his rig hit overhead power lines and damaged electric service to a home. He then continued onto Main Street, where his rig allegedly hit the American Legion and a stop sign. Police were able to identify the truck from information provided by a witness and surveillance. The rig was followed to the Pilot Truck Stop. Police said Smith denied being involved in a crash but eventually admitted to it. The rig’s weight was almost four times over the posted limit, police said. Charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Curtis Thompson.
Warrant issued: Bentleyville police have obtained an arrest warrant from District Judge Curtis Thompson for Latoya Smith, 32, who has no known address, stemming from a Dec. 1 traffic stop in the 1200 block of Main Street in Bentleyville. Police said she was spotted driving at a high speed, and after she was stopped, gave them her sister’s name. She had multiple warrants for her arrest and was charged with false identification to police, careless driving and other traffic violations.
BUFFALO
Driver injured: Brian Paluda, 41, of West Alexander, was injured Tuesday morning when his car overturned on eastbound Interstate 70 east of the Claysville exit, Buffalo. State police said he was driving about 6:25 a.m. in the right lane, at about 65 mph, when his car fishtailed and went up an embankment. The car overturned, came back down the embankment, hit a guardrail while on its roof and slid 300 feet. Paluda had to be freed by Claysville firefighters. He was taken to UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment. Police said the right lane was closed for about 90 minutes. Taylorstown firefighters assisted.
BURGETTSTOWN
Assault charge: Joshua Michael Bowland, 30, of 156 Camp Ground Road, Avella, was charged last week by McDonald police with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct after he allegedly punched a 24-year-old Burgettstown man in the face during a March 3 confrontation in the alleged victim’s apartment at 1336 Main St. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Gary Havelka.
CANONSBURG
Flag stolen: Elizabeth Peternel told Canonsburg police Monday that her Pittsburgh Penguins flag was stolen from outside her Giffin Avenue home.
CARROLL
DUI case: Rachel Jeane Sethman, 27, of Connellsville, is charged by Carroll police with drug possession with intent to deliver, drug possession, endangering the welfare of children and driving under the influence of marijuana, court records show. The charges stem from a traffic stop at about 7:40 p.m. March 4 at Route 88 and Coyle Curtin Road after Sethman’s vehicle traveled through a stop sign and nearly collided with another driven by a state trooper. An infant was traveling with her, police allege in court records. The charges filed Monday before District Judge Mark Wilson will proceed through Washington County DUI court.
DUNLEVY
Drug case: Amber Nicole Byrne-Caeti, 31, of 226 Simon Lane, West Newton, is charged by Roscoe, Elco, Stockdale and Allenport Regional police with driving under the influence of drugs and nine counts of theft, court records show. Police accuse her of stealing Alprazolam and Clonazepam while working at Dunlevy Gardens personal care home, 2218 Main St., where a coworker found her unconscious behind the wheel of her vehicle at about 4 p.m. Thursday. The charges filed Monday will proceed through Washington County DUI court.
MONONGAHELA
Harassment alleged: Barbara A. Lehew, 57, of 434 Atwood Drive, Rostraver Township, is charged by city police with three counts of harassment over allegations she stalked a woman and child at various Mon Valley locations between September and March 6, court records show. The charges will proceed via summons from the office of District Judge Mark Wilson.
ROSTRAVER
Man charged: Joshua Raymond Greene, 33, of 659 Martin Road, Rostraver Township, is charged by Rostraver police with possessing one stamp bag of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia following a complaint that he was behaving strangely about 5 p.m. March 20 outside of his residence, court records show. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso issued the charges Tuesday via summons.
SMITH
Driver charged: Timothy Melvin Miller, 38, of 155 McCracken Hill Road, Burgettstown, was charged Tuesday by Smith police in connection with a Feb. 18 crash on Joffre-Bulger Road at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery. Miller is charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, and careless and reckless driving. Police said his blood-alcohol content was almost three times the limit at which intoxication is presumed. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Gary Havelka.
Charged in assault: Richard Edwin Moore, 53, of 323 Joffre-Cherry Valley Road, Burgettstown, was charged Tuesday by Smith police after he allegedly assaulted a 28-year-old man at a neighbor’s home. Moore is accused of punching the other man in the face, causing a concussion. Moore is charged with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Gary Havelka.
WASHINGTON
Charged in stop: Kristen A. Owens, 28, of McKees Rocks, was charged Tuesday by state police with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia stemming from a March 20 traffic stop on the Interstate 70 ramp at Jefferson Avenue, Washington. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Passenger charged: Adrienne Marie Jennings, 29, of 783 Regent St., Washington, was charged Tuesday by state police with possession of paraphernalia. She was a passenger in a vehicle stopped March 4 by a trooper on Rye Avenue near Erie Street, Washington. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Bedroom items stolen: Carmen Burt of Washington told city police Monday that a 50-inch television, queen bed and mattress, dressers and a nightstand were stolen from his former home in the 800 block of Ewing Street. The items were reportedly stolen when he was in the hospital last month, police said.