Police Beat Oct. 10
AMWELL
Batteries stolen: Batteries were reported stolen from equipment parked at 195 Hatfield Road between Sept. 21 and Oct. 2, state police said.
CANTON
Shots fired: Mark Anthony Astorina, 52, of 246 Armstrong Drive, Canton, was arrested Saturday night by state police on charges of simple assault and reckless endangerment for allegedly firing two shots from his handgun after a 30-year-old Canonsburg man and a 27-year-old Canton woman left his property following a confrontation. Astorina denied trying to shoot the two, claiming he was shooting at raccoons. Astorina was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka and released from Washington County Jail after posting $5,000 bond.
Strangulation, assault arrest: Jonathan Thomas McClure, 28, of Jefferson, Texas, was arrested Sunday night by state police on charges of strangulation, simple assault and harassment after he allegedly choked a 29-year-old Texas woman during a confrontation at Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, 195 Sheffield St., Canton. He was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka and released from Washington County Jail after posting $5,000 bond.
CECIL
Money stolen: Jeffrey Tyler Pilcher, 29, of 4000 Winterbury Court, Canonsburg, was arrested Monday by Cecil police on a charge of theft after he allegedly stole $3,000 from the owner of the home where he was staying during the past several weeks. The homeowner told police that Pilcher, who is from Monroe, La., and another man had been staying at her home and paying rent. She confronted Pilcher, who allegedly admitted to taking the money and then purchasing a money order that he sent to Louisiana. Pilcher was arraigned before District Judge David Mark and placed in Washington County Jail on $50,000 bond.
DEEMSTON
Theft, receiving arrest: Lawrence Roy Filby, 51, of 17 Howes Lane, Fredericktown, was arrested Sunday by state police on charges of theft, receiving stolen property, criminal trespass and traffic violations after he allegedly stole scrap metal and diesel fuel from several locations of Neiswonger Construction, Deemston, in August. He was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka and placed in Washington County Jail on $5,000 bond.
DONORA
Warrant arrest: Kevin Harris, 33, of 953 Graham St., Monessen, was taken into custody Monday by Donora police on a Westmoreland County bench warrant. He was charged by Monessen police with retail theft for allegedly stealing items from Foodland, 701 Donner Ave., on July 20. He was arraigned before District Judge David Mark and is being held in Washington County Jail without bond for five days, pending extradition to Westmoreland County.
DONEGAL
Game law arrests: Noah Ashton Patton, 23, of Hattiesburg, Miss., and Jacob Taylor Patton, 27, of Petal, Miss., were arrested Saturday by a Pennsylvania Game Commission warden after three deer were allegedly killed during a closed season. A third man, Chase Porter Roe, 23, of Water Valley, Miss., was arrested Tuesday. Noah Ashton is charged with killing and transporting the deer and using an artificial light to hunt the animals in Donegal. Jacob Patton is accused of helping to transport the animals. Both were arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka and released on $5,000 unsecured bonds. Roe was arraigned before District Judge Ethan Ward for unlawful killing of game, transporting the deer, using a recreational spotlight and using an artificial light to hunt the animals. He was also released on $5,000 unsecured bond.
NORTH FRANKLIN
DUI, receiving charges: Michael Shane Montgomery, 35, of 263 Springfield Ave., Washington, was charged Tuesday by North Franklin police with driving under the influence of alcohol, having an open container of beer, receiving stolen property and traffic violations after an incident Oct. 1. Police were called to a home on Milbeck Drive when a resident thought that Montgomery was going through his vehicle. The resident called back after getting text messages from Montgomery, police said. The vehicle Montgomery was driving was reported stolen to state police. When he was stopped, police said his blood-alcohol content was more than 2 1/2 times the limit at which intoxication is presumed. Charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
NORTH STRABANE
Pole, house hit: Jason L. Ross, 39, of 406 Chartiers Ave., Canonsburg, was slightly injured Monday morning when his vehicle went off the 1700 block of Route 519. Police said he was going south when he swerved into the northbound lane and hit a utility pole. His car went through a yard at 1762 Route 519 and hit the corner of the house. He was treated at the scene.
PETERS
Threats alleged: Michael Philip Cotugno, 25, of 104 Springbrooke Drive, Venetia, was arrested Sunday morning by Peters police on charges of terroristic threats and simple assault after he allegedly threw a glass coffee pot and other kitchen items at his father during a confrontation at their home. He also allegedly threatened to kill his father. He was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka and placed in Washington County Jail on $5,000 bond.
SMITH
Burglary arrest: Robert Lee Stevens II, 35, of 212 Charles St., Langeloth, was arraigned Friday on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, loitering and prowling at night and theft filed by Smith police. He is caused of breaking into a home on Old Oak Avenue in Langeloth on Sept. 13 and stealing a lawn mower, weed trimmer, mountain bicycle, welding gloves and a welding mask. Several of the items were later found hidden in weeds a few doors away. Stevens was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka and placed in Washington County Jail on $5,000 bond.
SOMERSET
Boyfriend arrested: William Lee Pietrowski, 40, of 20 Donley Road, Somerset, was arrested early Sunday by state police on charges of aggravated assault, strangulation, unlawful restraint, simple assault and reckless endangerment after he allegedly choked and assaulted his 30-year-old girlfriend during a confrontation at their home. She told police that she believed he continued to beat her after she lost consciousness. She was taken to Washington Hospital for treatment. He was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka and placed in Washington County Jail on $25,000 bond.
Assault arrest: Richard J. Babirad, 73, of 346 Buckingham Road, Somerset, was arrested Monday afternoon by state police on charges of simple assault and harassment after he allegedly punched a woman during a confrontation at his home. He was arraigned before District Judge David Mark and released from Washington County Jail on $1,000 bond with orders not to contact the woman.
WASHINGTON
DUI alleged in crash: Charles King, 73, of 600 Moore Road, Washington, will be charged by Washington police with driving under the influence of alcohol after a two-vehicle crash about 7:35 p.m. Monday in front of 710 Jefferson Ave. Police said that he was driving north in the center lane when he struck a southbound vehicle turning into Dollar General. His vehicle then struck a mailbox and utility pole. Both he and the other driver refused treatment. Police said King’s blood-alcohol content was more than 2 1/2 times the 0.08 percent limit at which intoxication is presumed.
Harassment alleged: Labon L. Jackson, 42, of 174 Jollick Manor, Washington, will be charged by Washington police with harassment after he allegedly struck a 39-year-old woman with a door at a home in Jollick Manor Monday.
Two charged: Joshua David Stone, 31, of 126 Jeanne St., Washington, and Joshua Alan Ashbaugh, 33, of 686 Addison St., Washington, were charged last week by state police stemming from an Aug. 17 traffic stop. Both are charged with possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia after police say suspected heroin, crack and paraphernalia were found in a vehicle when it was stopped in a parking lot in the 1000 block of Jefferson Avenue. Stone also was charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance after fentanyl and cocaine were found in his system in a blood test, police said. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Paraphernalia charge: Jessica K. Fluharty, 43, of 690 Buena Vista St., Washington, was charged last week by state police with possession of paraphernalia in connection with a Sept. 15 traffic stop on Locust Avenue in Washington. Police took her into custody and placed her in Washington County Jail on a bench warrant. She has since been released. The charge was sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Disorderly, possession charges: John William St. Vincent Jr., 27, of 347 Glenn St., Washington, was charged last week by state police with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and disorderly conduct after an Aug. 20 traffic stop in a parking lot at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and West Chestnut Street. Police said St. Vincent, who was a passenger, had the suspected marijuana and paraphernalia found in the vehicle. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
Charged in stop: Laura Antoinette Vincenti, 43, of 166 S. Wade Ave., Washington, was charged last week by state police with possession of paraphernalia and disorderly conduct after an Aug. 21 traffic stop in the 10 block of Jefferson Avenue. Police said Vincenti was a passenger in the vehicle when she was found with the paraphernalia. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.