Police Beat June 8

AMWELL
Trucker arrested: Arthur James Johnson, 40, of Mobile, Ala., was arrested Wednesday morning by state police on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, commercial driver not to have alcohol in his system, obedience to traffic control devices and unlawful activities. Police said he failed to stop for an inspection at the Lone Pine weigh station on Interstate 79 northbound, Amwell. The lights were activated indicating all trucks were to stop. Police pulled him over near the Lone Pine interchange. He was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger and placed in Washington County Jail on $10,000 bond.
CANONSBURG
Woman injured: Sarah Fry, 20, of Ridge Avenue, was injured about 8 p.m. Wednesday when she apparently was struck by a mirror on a white van as it drove by. She told Canonsburg police she was unloading groceries from her vehicle outside her home when she was knocked to the ground. Her boyfriend was able to give police a description of the van. She was taken to Canonsburg Hospital, where she was treated and released.
CHARTIERS
Pole knocked down: A tractor-trailer driven by Louis Dotson, 44, of Union City, Ga., became entangled in Verizon telephone wires Wednesday night in the 600 block of Pike Street, Meadow Lands, shearing off a utility pole. Chartiers police said the pole came down between the cab of the truck and the trailer. The rig is owned by Lld Transportation of Union City.
Information accessed: Christopher Howard of Chartiers told township police Wednesday that his personal information was used to purchase two cellphones.
MONESSEN
Women charged: Lauren Nicole Lint, 28, of 23 Marion Villa, Washington Township, Fayette County, and Ashley Chalfant, 27, of 329 Main St., Belle Vernon, are charged by city police with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and conspiracy, court records show. Police accuse them of taking a car belonging to Grant Summers without his permission from the 200 block of Rebecca Street about 7:30 p.m. May 26. A senior district judge issued the charges Wednesday by summons.
NORTH STRABANE
Two injured: Ralph Merante, 84, of Canonsburg, was seriously injured Wednesday night in a two-vehicle crash on Route 19 near Zeman Drive. North Strabane police said he was turning from Zeman to go north on Route 19 and pulled into the path of a vehicle driven by Brian M. Martin, 56, also of Canonsburg. Merante was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was listed in serious condition Thursday. His passenger, Theresa Barone, 77, of White Oak, was taken to Washington Hospital. Martin was not injured. Both southbound lanes were closed for about an hour.
ROSTRAVER
Man jailed: Machale William Ellsworth Minor, 23, of 382 Barneys Road, Perryopolis, is charged by township police with drug possession with intent to deliver, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, court records show. Police accuse him of having 64 grams of marijuana when an officer approached his parked vehicle about 12:20 a.m. Thursday in the 400 block of Tristram Circle, Port Royal Village. Minor was placed in Westmoreland County Jail on $25,000 bond set by District Judge Charles Christner.
Assault alleged: Charles Thomas Whatton III, 34, of 725 Fellsburg Road, Rostraver Township, is charged by township police with two counts of simple assault over allegations he threw a plate that struck a 13-year-old girl about 4:30 p.m. June 3 in his residence, court records show. District Judge Charles Christner signed a warrant Monday for Whatton’s arrest.
Drug charges: Thomas Joseph Kokoska, 26, of 26 Moffat St., Monessen, is charged by Westmoreland County Park police with drug possession with intent to deliver, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, court records show. Police accuse Kokoska of hiding four bricks of heroin in a vehicle involved in a traffic stop about 10:40 p.m. Sunday in Cedar Creek Park. Kokoska is free on $25,000 bond set Wednesday by District Judge Charles Christner.
WASHINGTON
Man assaulted: Joseph Gudac, 58, of 430 W. Chestnut St., told Washington police that he was assaulted at his apartment building. He told police that he and a heavy-set black man who was in his late 40s got into an argument. The man reportedly punched Gudac in the left eye and threatened to stab him.