Police Beat Aug. 29
BENTLEYVILLE
Drug warrant: George M. Lacotta III, 35, of 1010 Old West Road, Bentleyville, was arraigned Monday before District Judge Robert Redlinger on a warrant obtained by Bentleyville police charging him with possession and possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Lacotta allegedly had the marijuana at his home when police served another arrest warrant on him May 22. He was placed in Washington County jail on a $10,000 percentage bond.
BLAINE
Girl missing: Tamika Lynn Little, 17, of Blaine Township, was reported missing Saturday night to state police. She reportedly ran away from 19 Main St., Taylorstown. The girl is white, 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 123 pounds. She has brown, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and green pants. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call 724-223-5200.
CALIFORNIA
Drug charges: Natalie Robertson, 18, of Charleroi, will be charged by California police with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, as well as traffic violations. Police said the items were found in her vehicle during an Aug. 16 traffic stop at Third and Wood streets.
Fraternity presidents cited: Eric Michael Townsend, 22, of California, and Nicholas Paul Setto, 21, of Washington, will be cited by California police for violating the borough’s disorderly house ordinance after officers were called Saturday night to their respective fraternity houses for loud parties. Townsend is president of Sigma Tau, 547 Second St., and Setto is president of Alpha Kau Lambda, 600 Wood St.
CANTON
Harassment alleged: Robert Boyd McCartney, 34, of Washington, will be charged with harassment by state police after he allegedly hit a 25-year-old Washington man in the face during a confrontation Saturday at 860 Henderson Ave., Canton.
CHARTIERS
Driver faces charge: Scott David Hodge, 57, of 16 Gretna Road, Washington, will be charged by Chartiers police with driving under the influence of alcohol after he allegedly crashed his vehicle into another vehicle in the 500 block of Western Avenue just before 6 p.m. Saturday.
MT. PLEASANT
DUI, drug charges: Ross Wayne Goldstone, 20, of 81 Lemoyne Ave., Washington, was charged last week by Mt. Pleasant police with DUI, possession of marijuana, having an open container of alcohol, underage drinking and traffic violations stemming from an Aug. 5 traffic stop near Henderson Road and Main Street. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Traci McDonald.
Assault, harassment charges: Homer Warren Briggs, 45, of 4499 Route 40, Claysville, and Kaleb Ryan Ware, 23, of 4115 Jefferson Ave., Washington, were charged last week by Mt. Pleasant police with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct stemming from an Aug. 11 assault in the parking lot of Rough Cut Tavern, 1041 Burgettstown Road (Route 18). Two men reported to police they had been assaulted. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Traci McDonald.
SMITH
Flight, fleeing charges: James Eugene Bunce, 31, whose last known address was in Smethport, McKean County, was arraigned Tuesday by video before District Judge Gary Havelka on charges of flight to avoid apprehension and fleeing or attempting to elude police filed by state police after he allegedly fled from Smith and state police who were trying to serve a U.S. marshal’s warrant on him July 31 at a home on Ostop Road, Smith. Bunce is in McKean County jail on $100,000 bond on arson-related charges. Havelka set bond on him at $2,500.
Unauthorized use alleged: Bryan Michael Skiles, 31, of Langeloth, was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Gary Havelka on charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle and driving under suspension filed by Smith police after a Jan. 14 incident. He allegedly took a woman’s vehicle without permission and crashed it in Imperial. Havelka set bond at $2,500 on Skiles, who was placed in Washington County jail on a bench warrant Monday.
SOUTH FAYETTE
Suspected luring: South Fayette Township police are investigating a possible child luring involving five girls at the lemonade stand they had set up off Old Oakdale Road. According to police, a suspect pulled his vehicle next to the stand Aug. 20 and told the girls he had something to show them in his van. The children said he tried to pull an article of clothing on one of the girls, who promptly pulled away from him. The police department is working in conjunction with the Allegheny County district attorney’s office on forensic evidence, and they have a “good, solid lead,” Chief John Phoennik said.
SOUTH STRABANE
Trespass, loitering arrest: Allen Michael Stimpson, 18, of 12 Euclid Ave., Washington, was arrested early Tuesday by South Strabane police after officers got complaints of a person knocking on doors at Northgate Apartments, 740 Michigan Ave. Police were initially called about 12:10 a.m., and Stimpson was told to leave the property. Police returned four hours later after getting more complaints, and he was taken into custody. Stimpson was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller and placed in Washington County jail on $7,500 bond.
WASHINGTON
Threats alleged: Anthony Phillip Richardson, 37, of 266 Locust Ave., Washington, was charged Monday by Washington police with terroristic threats and harassment. He is accused of leaving a 35-year-old Washington woman a voicemail threatening to shoot and kill her with a pistol Aug. 17. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.