Police Beat Feb. 12
BLAINE
Assault alleged: George Paul Locy, 28, of 205 Neely School Road, Blaine Township, is charged by state police with aggravated assault, strangulation, simple assault and harassment, court records show. He is accused of grabbing Sabrina Allen by the throat, dragging her by the throat to a bedroom and shoving her when she attempted to get off the floor about 7 p.m. Sunday. Locy is in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond set by District Judge Mark Wilson.
CANONSBURG
Theft: The landlord of a residence in the 400 block of Highfield Avenue reported Friday afternoon to borough police two safes in his garage were broken into, and coins and collectibles were stolen.
CHARTIERS
Assault charge: Scott Morgan Byrd Sr., 53, of 528 Forrest Ave., was charged by township police with simple assault and harassment following an altercation with his son Feb. 10 at his residence. Police said Byrd and his son had just returned home from a bar about 2 a.m. when Byrd tried to get back into the car and drive. When his son tried to stop him from getting in the car, Byrd allegedly punched him in the face, causing the son to fall and hit his head on the road. Police said the victim was taken by ambulance to Washington Hospital for a bloody nose and a cut on the back of his head.
ELLSWORTH
Man jailed: Joseph Denzel Rhome, 21, of 29 Maple St., Ellsworth, is charged by state police with strangulation, simple assault and harassment, court records show. Police accuse Rhome of choking his exgirlfriend, Shania Ealy, when she asked for her car keys about 2 a.m. Saturday at Rhome’s residence. He is in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond set by District Judge Larry Hopkins.
MONESSEN
Gun theft alleged: James Foster, 37, of 169 Progress Drive, Waynesburg, is charged by city police with theft, receiving stolen property, illegal possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm without a license, court records show. Police accuse Foster of stealing a handgun from Michael Urwin when Urwin gave Foster a ride in his pickup truck in a theft that was reported about 4:30 a.m. Feb. 7. A senior district judge signed a warrant Friday for Foster’s arrest.
Man jailed: Joseph T. Selinger Jr., 49, of 514 First St., Monessen, is charged by city police with aggravated assault, making terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, possession of an instrument of a crime, disorderly conduct and harassment, court records show. Police said officers disarmed Selinger of a rifle after he had a confrontation with his neighbor about 6 p.m. Thursday. He is in Westmoreland County jail on $75,000 bond set Sunday by District Judge Denise S. Thiel.
NORTH STRABANE
Crash: Two people were injured in a three-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on Route 19 north, near Meadowbrook Drive. Township police said Rebecca Gramm, 16, of 34 Poplar St., Canonsburg, was driving south on Route 19 about 1:30 p.m. when she ran a red light at Meadowbrook Drive, striking a car, which then struck a third car. Gramm’s passenger, McKensie Stayer, 16, of 136 Rose Ave., Canonsburg, sustained a possible broken nose and was taken by ambulance to Canonsburg Hospital. The driver of the second vehicle, Cindy Lutz, 60, of 1124 Meadowbrook Drive, Canonsburg, was also taken by ambulance to Canonsburg Hospital for treatment of possible leg injuries. The driver of the third vehicle, Georgia Bitonti, 64, of 307 Winners Circle, Canonsburg, was uninjured, police said. All three vehicle were totaled and towed from the scene.
Crash: A woman and her 7-month-old baby were not injured in a crash related to snowy road conditions Sunday evening. Township police said Victoria Damico, 27, of 340 Ridge Ave., Canonsburg, was traveling down Vance Drive when she lost control of the vehicle on the snow-covered road. Police said she traveled into a driveway on Carol Drive, through two backyards and into a front yard. The vehicle damaged a swingset, shrubbery and a silt barrier. Damico and her baby girl, in a carrier in the backseat, were uninjured, police said. Damico was cited for traffic violations.
SOUTH STRABANE
Terroristic threats charge: Cherelle Monique Edwards, 32, of Pittsburgh, was charged by township police with two counts of felony retail theft, flight to avoid apprehension, giving false information to law enforcement, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct following an incident at Tanger Outlets Friday evening. Police said Edwards allegedly stole $140 of merchandise from Zumiez and threatened an employee there, saying “If you don’t back off, you’ll just be a body.” Police said Edwards then went to the children’s store Justice and attempted to steal $177 worth of merchandise, before police arrived and stopped her. As police were arresting Edwards, she allegedly gave them the wrong first name before fleeing on foot. She then got into a car and left at a high speed, according to the criminal complaint. Police said Edwards, who has multiple prior retail theft convictions, is not allowed back in Zumiez.