Police Beat Oct. 18
AMWELL
Charged in ATV theft: Shane Michael Fuller, 18, of 14 Mark Ave., Washington, was charged by state police with theft and receiving stolen property after he allegedly took an Amwell man’s Honda all-terrain vehicle for a ride from the man’s Baker Station Road property Sept. 29 and never returned. Police said the ATV was later found at Fuller’s home. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
BUFFALO
Driver charged: Andrew M. Wachtel, 26, of Swissvale, was charged Wednesday by state police with driving under the influence of controlled substances and traffic violations after he allegedly crashed into a fence Aug. 25 at the Mel Blount Youth Home, Green Valley and Wigington roads, Buffalo. He told police he got lost when returning home from Brownsville. Police said blood tests showed he had several drugs in his system, including cocaine and Alprazolam. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
DONORA
Man jailed: Alvin Leonard Cox, 52, of 140 Thompson Ave., Donora, is charged by borough police with theft, theft from a motor vehicle and trespassing over allegations he entered vehicles parked in the 600 block of Sixth St. and 500 block of Fifth Street about 1:45 a.m. Wednesday, attempting to steal a handgun from one of them, court records show. He is in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond set by District Judge Mark Wilson.
EAST FINLEY
Drug, disorderly charges: Henry E. Hess, 45, of 140 Buckeye Road, East Finley Township, was charged last week by state police with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and disorderly conduct. Police were at the home attempting to serve a warrant on another person Sept. 10. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
MONESSEN
Assault alleged: Derrick Anthony Bass Sr., 28, of 333 Manown St., Monessen, is charged by city police with strangulation, simple assault and false imprisonment, court records show. He is accused of pushing Sarah Kolenc into a wall while she was holding a toddler and punching her in the face. She also accused him of choking her and forcing her into her apartment, holding her there against her will Oct. 3. Senior District Judge Herbert Mitchell Jr. signed a warrant Wednesday for the arrest of Bass.
MORRIS
Contractor charged: Gerald A. Gregg, 54, of 670 Cleveland Road, North Franklin Township, was charged Wednesday by state police with theft by deception, deceptive business practices and home improvement fraud. He is accused of taking $1,700 to do concrete work on a sidewalk at a home on Sparta Road, Morris, in late August but never doing the work. The homeowner told police that Gregg indicated the work would be done Sept. 10, but he never showed up. The homeowner also told police he had not heard back from Gregg. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
Charged in crash: Robert J. Pimentel, 62, of 190 Pikes Peak Road, Prosperity, was charged Wednesday by Greene County Regional police with DUI of alcohol and traffic violations after he allegedly crashed into a tree Oct. 3 at Dille Run and Grove roads, Morris. Police said his blood-alcohol content was more than 2 ½ times the 0.08 percent limit at which intoxication is presumed. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
NORTH BETHLEHEM
Restaurant cited: The operators of Century Inn, Route 40, North Bethlehem, were cited Monday by the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement for allegedly furnishing alcohol to a 19-year-old on Sept. 7.
PETERS
Assault charge: Alexander Brocato, 24, of Pittsburgh, was charged last week by Peters police with simple assault after he allegedly pointed a handgun at a woman during a road rage incident Sept. 26 near Washington Road and Gateshead Drive. The charge was sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jesse Pettit.
Charged in crash: Thomas Hand, 72, of 121 Druid Drive, McMurray, was charged last week by Peters police with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in injury and failure to render aid after an Oct. 5 wreck in the Donaldson’s Crossroads Shopping Center parking lot. Hand’s vehicle allegedly struck a woman in the hip after she stepped off a curb. He reportedly told police the woman did not appear to be injured, so he left. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jesse Pettit.
ROSTRAVER
Pair charged: Johni Lune Leshnock, 32, and Daniel Ethan Miller, 29, both of 549 Turkey Hollow Road, Rostraver Township, are each charged by township police with simple assault and harassment in connection with a fight at their residence about 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, court records show. District Judge Mark Mansour released them on $10,000 unsecured bonds.
Assaults alleged: Melissa Sue Horner, 33, of 1302 Vine St., West Newton, is charged by township police with burglary, trespassing, simple assault and criminal mischief, court records show. Horner is accused of entering a residence in the 300 block of Finley Road about 11:15 p.m. Monday and assaulting her former boyfriend, Brian Schmeltz, and his girlfriend, Meghan Karr. Horner also is accused of damaging their vehicles by throwing rocks at them. She is free on $25,000 unsecured bond set Tuesday by Senior District Judge Charles D. Moore.
SOUTH FRANKLIN
Drug charges: Merle Galentine Jr., 39, of 2400 S Bridge Road, South Franklin, was charged last week by state police with possession of paraphernalia and disorderly conduct. Police said they were called to the home by the man’s parents Aug. 26 because he allegedly was using drugs. The charges were sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.
SOUTH STRABANE
Charged in theft: Bernie Heinlein, 50, of Pittsburgh’s North Side, was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Jay Weller on a felony count of retail theft and conspiracy after he and a McKeesport woman allegedly stole 26 pairs of shoes from Rack Room Shoes at Tanger Outlets on Aug. 6. Sabrina Eisenberg, his alleged accomplice, was arraigned last week on the charges filed by South Strabane police. Heinlein was released on his own recognizance.
Woman arrested: Amber Jellots, 31, of Chestnut Street, Washington, was arrested Tuesday afternoon by South Strabane police on two counts of retail theft after she allegedly stole items from Target and Michael’s at Strabane Square. Police said she was then seen getting on a bus with her two small children by Target security, who reportedly recognized her from previous thefts. Jellots was taken into custody at her home. She was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller and released.
Vehicle damaged: Brittany Chirumbolo of Washington told South Strabane police Tuesday her vehicle was damaged while it was parked outside Walmart, Trinity Point.
WASHINGTON
Assault arrest: Brandon Hartz, 22, of 940 E. Maiden St., Washington, was arrested late Tuesday for allegedly slamming a 20-year-old woman to the floor after the two got into an argument over property at their residence. He is also accused of breaking her cellphone. Hartz was arraigned before District Judge Mark Wilson on charges of simple assault, harassment and criminal mischief and placed in Washington County jail on $2,500 bond.
Theft investigated: Washington police are investigating the theft of two bank deposits earlier this month by a former employee of Mr. Tire, 87 W. Chestnut St. The deposits totaled more than $1,200.