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Police Beat May 15

8 min read

BENTLEYVILLE

Forgery, theft arrest: Joseph Charles Baughman, 34, of 1410 Sheridan Ave., Brownsville, was arraigned Friday before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of forgery, identity theft, retail theft and theft by deception filed by Bentleyville police. He is accused of filling out a credit application at AutoZone, 107 Wilson Ave., on Dec. 3 using a false name, Social Security number, address and birthdate. He then allegedly returned to the store on two occasions in December, charging more than $800 in purchases. Police said he was arrested for similar crimes in Washington and faces charges in Uniontown. Baughman was placed in Washington County Jail on $10,000 bond.

BUFFALO

Drivers identified: State police have identified the drivers involved in a two-vehicle crash Thursday night on Route 40 near McGuffey High School, Buffalo. Police said Zach VanMetre, 18, of Washington, was driving east on Route 40 at a high speed. Witnesses told police that he had been swerving when he crossed the center line and slid sideways into a westbound vehicle driven by Justine Hudak, 24, of Claysville, hitting her vehicle almost head-on. VanMetre was flown from the high school to UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment of internal injuries. Hudak was taken to Washington Hospital for treatment. Claysville and Taylorstown firefighters assisted at the scene.

CALIFORNIA

Threats, resisting arrest: Jonathan Gary Boyle, 37, of Claridge, Westmoreland County, was arrested Saturday night by California police on charges of terroristic threats, resisting arrest and public intoxication. Police were called to Sigz Bistro, 143 Second St., for a report of a customer harassing an employee. Boyle left before police arrived but was found a short time later. He allegedly struggled with officers when they tried to take him into custody and threatened an officer. Boyle was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller and placed in Washington County Jail on $10,000 bond.

CECIL

Assault charge: Anthony Moore, 38, of Winterberry Court, Canonsburg, was charged by Cecil police with simple assault after he allegedly struck his neighbor during a May 8 incident. The neighbor told police that he was sitting on the stoop of his home when Moore got out of his pickup truck, came up and hit him. He said Moore also yelled at him, telling him to stop bothering him and his wife. Moore waived immediate arraignment. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Traci McDonald.

CENTERVILLE

Father arrested: Samuel A. Zangla, 53, of 12 Arch St., Vestaburg, was arrested Saturday by Centerville police on charges of aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment. He is accused of hitting his son in the arm with a baseball bat several times. He also allegedly hit his son in the head with his hand. Zangla was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller and placed in Washington County Jail on $10,000 bond.

EAST FINLEY

Hunters targeted: Two men told state police their vehicles were vandalized Saturday morning while they were turkey hunting at a state gamelands in East Finley. One hunter’s vehicle was parked alongside Raspberry Road and the other was in a parking area near Quaker Ridge Cemetery when “poacher” was scratched into the vehicles between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. Both men were hunting legally. One of the men told police that someone was driving up and down the road honking a car horn in an effort to disrupt hunting and also spun tires near where one vehicle was parked. Anyone with information is asked to call Trooper Ryan Deems at 724-223-5200.

ELLSWORTH

PFA violation alleged: Tammy Lynn Sturchak, 42, of 31 S. Main St., Ellsworth, was arrested Friday night by state police for allegedly violating a protection-from-abuse order obtained by her 47-year-old ex-boyfriend. She allegedly called him and went to his home on Ash Street, Ellsworth, after seeing him at a bar in the borough earlier that night. Judge Brandon Neuman issued the order against her on April 3. She was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller and released.

MONESSEN

Identity theft alleged: Justin Christopher Levay, 32, of 245 W. McClain Road, Rostraver Township, is charged by city police with identity theft, acquisition by misrepresentation and drug possession, court records show. Police accuse Levay of pretending to be James Wergin in order to pick up Wergin’s prescription for Alprazolam at a Rostraver Township pharmacy about 3 p.m. May 8. Levay was placed in Westmoreland County Jail on $5,000 bond after being arraigned Friday in Monessen.

Man jailed: Lynn Bradley Lerch, 48, of Leechburg, is charged by city police with simple assault and harassment over allegations he grabbed his girlfriend’s face and struck her with his arm about 11 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of Court Avenue, court records show. Lerch was placed in Westmoreland County Jail on $2,000 bond set by District Judge Thomas S. Brletic.

Assault alleged: Charles Graham, 52, of 415 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi, is charged by city police with strangulation, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, court records show. He is accused of struggling with an officer after Carmen Smith said he grabbed her by the throat about 6:30 a.m. Saturday at 37 Aliquippa Ave. Graham is free on $20,000 unsecured bond set Monday in Monessen.

ROBINSON

Charged in thefts: Laura Vincenti, 43, of Washington, was arraigned Friday before District Judge Jay Weller on charges filed against her by police from McDonald and East Washington. McDonald police charged her with theft for allegedly stealing a pickup truck from the Valley Street home of a Robinson man last August. East Washington police charged her with access device fraud, theft and receiving stolen property for allegedly stealing a man’s credit card from his North Avenue home and using it to make purchases. She was placed in Washington County Jail on $15,000 bond.

SOUTH STRABANE

Warrant arrest: India Trashae Stuart, 26, of Bruce Street, Washington, was arrested on a warrant Saturday by state police during a traffic stop in Canton Township. In early March, she was arrested by state police in South Strabane Township on bench warrants and taken to Washington County Jail. At the jail, a corrections officer reported finding a bag of marijuana hidden in her underwear, and she was charged by state police with possession of contraband and marijuana. She was arrested on those charges Saturday and released on her own recognizance.

WASHINGTON

Twice assaulted: Police said Derrick Jones, 19, of Washington, was assaulted twice over the weekend. David Lucy of 113 Gibson Ave., Washington, will be charged by Washington police with harassment for allegedly punching Jones in the head during a confrontation at Jones’ West Walnut Street home. Jones also was assaulted and robbed of $40 Sunday night as he walked on Jefferson Avenue, police said. He told police he was hit in the head and lost consciousness, but he refused treatment.

Change stolen: Carolyn Blaney told Washington police Sunday that change was stolen from her unlocked vehicle while it was parked outside her Tyler Avenue apartment.

Rental car stolen: Kimberly Pinson of Laurel Avenue, Washington, told Washington police Friday that a 2018 black Nissan Altima that she rented from Enterprise Rent-A-Car was stolen from outside a home on Hall Avenue. She reportedly told police that she had rented the rental car to a cousin.

Women involved in assault: Washington police are investigating a confrontation between at least two women Saturday at a home in the 700 block of Fayette Street. A 21-month-old girl suffered a minor injury when a screen door closed on her.

Theft charge: Jordan Johnson, 18, of Washington, is charged with theft for allegedly stealing an iPhone from an unidentified woman Feb. 27. The alleged victim told police she posted an ad on Facebook to sell her iPhone and was contacted by someone identifying himself as “Jay Johnson.” They arranged to meet at 160 Jefferson Ave., and when the woman gave Johnson the phone to inspect, he ran away without paying, police said. The charge is being sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.

Retail theft charge: Lachae Paris Wilson, 24, of Belle Vernon, is being charged with resisting arrest, retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia after she allegedly stole items from a Family Dollar store March 4, police said. Wilson was apprehended that day by police in the area of Oak and Erie streets, and allegedly struggled with officers when they attempted to put handcuffs on her. In her purse, police said Wilson had two Bluetooth handsets, a USB home charger, a Bluetooth speaker and various cosmetics. The total value of the items was $80.14. Nine hypodermic needles and several empty stamp bags also were found, police said. Charges have been sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.

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