Police Beat May 8
CALIFORNIA
Drug charges: Evan Bechtel, 21, of Doylestown, Bucks County, was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Joshua Kanalis on charges of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, careless driving and reckless driving stemming from an April 2 crash. California University of Pennsylvania police said Bechtel crashed into a dumpster at the Pollock Building after crashing into another vehicle. Bechtel was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment. Police obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and said they found a half-pound of marijuana in the trunk. Bechtel was released from Washington County jail after posting $15,000 bond.
PFA violation alleged: Dustin Rhodes, 28, of 401 Ash St., Richeyville, was arrested Saturday by California police for allegedly violating a protection-from-abuse order obtained by the alleged victim. He reportedly got into an argument with her on First Street. He was arraigned before District Judge Joshua Kanalis and released.
CANONSBURG
Account accessed: Anthony Patragas of Canonsburg told Canonsburg police Friday his bank information was accessed and used to make an unauthorized withdrawal from an automated teller machine at a bank on West Pike Street.
CECIL
Driver arrested: Rebecca Lynn Benard, 29, of Oakdale, was arrested early Saturday by Cecil police on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding. Police were on patrol near Routes 980 and 50 when she allegedly sped past. Police said they noticed major damage to the vehicle, as well as an airbag deployment. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but Benard allegedly continued on Route 980 at 80 mph before coming to a stop near Gladden Road. Police said she refused to submit to a blood-alcohol test. Benard was arraigned before District Judge Joshua Kanalis and released from Washington County jail after posting $10,000 bond.
CENTERVILLE
Robbery, assault arrest: Donald Deems, 52, of Vestaburg, was arrested early Sunday by Centerville police on charges of robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, simple assault, harassment, unauthorized use of a vehicle and traffic violations after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend and stole her cellphone. He was arraigned before District Judge Joshua Kanalis and placed in Washington County jail without bond because he has no permanent address.
COKEBURG
Assault arrest: Jacqueline Mae Mooney, 22, of Pittsburgh, was arraigned Monday before District Judge Curtis Thompson on charges of simple assault and harassment filed by state police. She is accused of punching a 46-year-old man in the face during a confrontation Saturday night at a home on Lincoln Street in Cokeburg. She was released on $5,000 unsecured bond.
DONEGAL
Fleeing charge: Shane C. Swiger, 28, of Bethany, W.Va., was arrested Sunday by Donegal police after they were asked to assist the Brooke County, W.Va., sheriff’s department at a home on Lake Road. A deputy told police they had pursued Swiger, who was operating a motorcycle, into Washington County. He was arraigned before District Judge Joshua Kanalis and released from Washington County jail after posting $25,000 bond.
DONORA
Man charged: Emmett Jetson Rivers, 45, of 109 Modisette Ave., Donora, is charged by borough police with fleeing from police, flight to avoid apprehension and driving under the influence of alcohol, court records show. Police said Rivers drove off from an attempted traffic stop in the 100 block of 11th Street about 3:30 p.m. Feb. 2, traveling six blocks until he was met with a roadblock. He was wanted that day as a suspect in a hit-and-run crash in Monongahela. District Judge Mark Wilson issued the charges last week in a summons.
MONESSEN
Pair wanted: Jonathan Estela-Rivera, 28, of 1101 Park Manor, Monessen, is charged by city police with forgery, unauthorized access device use, theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy over accusations he used a banking card stolen from Lindsay Brozik to make $289 worth of purchases last month, court records show. Amber Nicole Egler, 29, of the same address, is charged with conspiracy. District Judge Joseph Dalfonso last week signed warrants for their arrests.
Assault alleged: Ashley Marie Sheppard, 37, of 413 Ontario St., Monessen, is charged by city police with simple assault, harassment and criminal mischief, court records show. Police accuse Sheppard of striking Brandon Ashbaugh in the face, breaking his eyeglasses and throwing a figurine at him about 7 p.m. Sunday at 634 Oneida St. She was placed in Westmoreland County jail on $3,000 bond set by District Judge Thomas S. Brletic.
Drug charges: Jonathan Herman Nugara, 24, of 332 Market St., Belle Vernon, is charged by city police with possessing five stamp bags of heroin and a small amount of crack and possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from a traffic stop about 2 p.m. Friday in the 1500 block of Rostraver Street, court records show. He is free on $5,000 unsecured bond set by District Judge Wayne Gongaware.
Woman jailed: Jessica Lynn Rose, 23, whose address is unknown, is charged by city police with identity theft, obstruction and giving police a false name, court records show. Police accuse her of giving an officer a false name when he approached her during an unrelated investigation on the Third Street pedestrian stairs late May 3. She is in Westmoreland County jail on unrelated arrest warrants.
MONONGAHELA
Man charged: Chad Mitchell DeSantis, 35, of 31 Decker St., Monongahela, is charged by city police with illegally operating a motor vehicle not equipped with an ignition interlock April 9, court records show. District Judge Mark Wilson issued the charge Friday in a summons.
Woman charged: Ashley Katrina Anthony, 30, of 621 Lincoln St., Monongahela, is charged by city police with driving under the influence of drugs, endangering the welfare of children and possession of drug paraphernalia, court records show. Police accuse her of operating a vehicle with a toddler as a passenger in a Sheetz drive-through while under the influence of heroin, Alprazolam, codeine and morphine March 16, 2017. The charges were filed last week before District Judge Mark Wilson.
SOUTH STRABANE
PFA violation alleged: Richard Allen Dean, 51, of 896 Green St., Canton Township, was arrested Sunday by South Strabane police for allegedly violating a protection-from-abuse order obtained against him by a Washington woman. He is accused of twice approaching her while she was at Walmart, Trinity Point. He was arraigned before District Judge Joshua Kanalis and released.
Burglary attempt: South Strabane police said an attempt was made Saturday to break into Aamco, 1129 Maple Ave. A door was damaged in the attempt, police said.
Cellphone stolen: Jillian Dates of Houston told South Strabane police Friday her Samsung Galaxy 7 cellphone was stolen from the self-checkout area of Target, Strabane Square.
Purse stolen: Tamara Wells of Woodsfield, Ohio, told South Strabane police Sunday her purse and $100 were stolen while she was in a room at the Hampton Inn on Murtland Avenue.
WASHINGTON
Threat alleged: City police charged Eric W. Johnson, 29, of Washington on Friday with terroristic threats. Johnson allegedly told a relative of a man with whom he’d had an argument he planned to shoot the other man last week. Johnson was charged by summons from District Judge Robert Redlinger’s office.
Shoplifting charge: City police charged Kenneth J. Haskey Jr., 31, of Washington with retail theft Monday. Police said in court papers Haskey stole two cartons of cigarettes from Cogo’s on Jefferson Avenue on April 7. Haskey was charged by summons from District Judge Robert Redlinger’s office.
Harassment charge: Julio Astfalk, 42, of Washington was charged Monday by city police with harassment and possessing a small amount of marijuana. Police were called April 17 to Astfalk’s house in the 300 block of Maple Avenue after he allegedly grabbed his wife by her arm and shoved her. Police said they found a glass jar containing marijuana under a coffee table. Astfalk was charged by summons from District Judge Robert Redlinger’s office.
Man charged: City police charged Carlos D. Evans, 38, of Washington, with strangulation, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment Monday. Police said Evans’ on-again, off-again girlfriend reported Evans had punched and bitten her face, choked her twice, kicked her, stomped on her and put his hands over her mouth to keep her quiet during an attack April 29 at his Lincoln Terrace apartment. Evans was charged by summons from District Judge Robert Redlinger’s office.
Tires flattened: Felicia Abraham of Lincoln Terrace told Washington police two tires were flattened on her vehicle. Charges are pending against a 23-year-old woman.
Bank employee assaulted: An employee of PNC Bank, 301 Jefferson Ave., was reportedly assaulted in the parking lot by a customer Thursday. Police said she was slapped by a 39-year-old Claysville woman. Charges are pending.
Money stolen: Washington police said $42 and $142 in fundraising money were reported stolen Thursday from Labrusa Chiropractic, 975 Jefferson Ave.
Break-in attempt: James Hamilton of 420 E. Maiden St. said an attempt was made early Monday to break into his apartment.
Woman assaulted: A 31-year-old North Franklin Township woman told Washington police Sunday she was assaulted inside a Maple Terrace home. She was inside a bathroom when her alleged attacker forced open the door and struck her. Charges are pending.
Vehicle damaged: Ventasia Moore of Washington told Washington police Saturday an object was thrown at her vehicle while it was on Woodlawn Avenue, damaging it. Charges are pending.
Electric meter stolen: Jack Amos of Washington told Washington police Saturday an electric meter was stolen from property he owns in the 400 block of Fayette Street.
Brick thrown: Julia Anna of Washington told Washington police Friday a brick was thrown at a window on her vehicle, damaging it.
Motorcycle stolen: Elliot Eakin of Tarentum told Washington police Friday his 1993 Kawasaki motorcycle was stolen from a storage facility at 50 Sumner Ave.
Money stolen: Betty Myers of Ewing Street told Washington police Friday $200 was stolen from her purse at her home.