Crime briefs
June 22, 2008 Fayette County
Checkpoints scheduled
State police announced they will conduct sobriety checkpoints throughout Fayette County at various times through June 30.
North Union Twp.
Charges pending
State police said drug-related charges are pending against a 51-year-old Uniontown man who was involved in a one-vehicle crash on Bute Road June 10. Police said a small amount of suspected marijuana was found in the vehicle’s glove box following the crash.
Menallen Twp.
Two charged
State police charged Gerald Allen Duritsky, 26, and Whitney Renee Crowe, 21, both of 227 Forth St., New Salem, with two counts each of reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.
Police alleged that Crowe drove a vehicle “erratically” and chased a vehicle driven by Angel Axton, 35, of Brownsville around 7:30 p.m. June 10. Police said Duritsky was in the passenger seat of the car that Crowe was driving, and alleged that he threw assorted hand tools at Axton as she was driving a vehicle owned by Patsy Marano, 55, of Adah.
Police also alleged that Duritsky made threats to an unidentified 15-year-old boy. He was charged with an additional count of criminal mischief before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr.
South Union Twp.
Charges pending
State police said charges of reckless endangerment are pending against a 15-year-old Uniontown boy who allegedly brandished a folding pocketknife toward two other teens during an argument at Uniontown Mall on June 13. Police said the victims are a 16-year-old boy from Dunbar and a 16-year-old girl from Uniontown. Charges will be filed through the Fayette County Juvenile Probation Office, police said.
South Union Twp.
Two injured
State police said two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident on Morgantown Road at the intersection of Old Walnut Hill Road around 12:40 p.m. Thursday. Police listed the driver of one of the vehicles involved as Ellwood E. Kelly Jr., 52, of Uniontown and said he was uninjured. The driver of the other vehicle involved, John G. Bail, 66, and passenger Rachel Bail, 11, both of Uniontown, each sustained minor injuries, police said.
Dawson
Man arrested
State police charged Michael Lee Torrence, 36, of Dawson with simple assault and harassment after he alleged hit his father, Bobby Lee Torrence, 59, of Dawson, in the head several times around 4:20 p.m. Thursday. Police said the alleged assault occurred at 74 Boyd Ave. Michael Torrence was arraigned before Senior Magisterial District Judge Brenda Cavalcante and remanded to Fayette County Prison on $500 bail.
Springfield Pike
Fake bill reported
State police said a woman tried to use a counterfeit $10 bill at Miller’s Grocery, 3404 Springfield Pike in Normalville, around 2 p.m. Thursday.
East Huntingdon Twp.
Card used
Ronald Cockrell, 51, of Connellsville told state police in Greensburg that someone fraudulently used his lost credit card at the Wal-Mart in Mount Pleasant last month.
Hempfield Twp.
Man arrested
State police in Greensburg charged Peter Lancaster, 50, of Uniontown and a 17-year-old Uniontown boy with theft by unlawful taking after they allegedly stole scrap metal from the home of Randall Harrold on Slate Run Road in Greensburg on Monday. Police said Harrold confronted the two and waited for police to arrive.
Morgan Twp.
Theft reported
Kenton Clutter of Third Street in Mather reported that a pistol was stolen from his home Tuesday, according to state police in Waynesburg.
Franklin Twp.
Burglary reported
State police in Waynesburg said someone smashed a hole in the cement wall of Walt’s Auto Clinic in Waynesburg between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Dunkard Twp.
Theft reported
State police in Waynesburg said someone stole a motorcycle from High Point Raceway on June 15. The motorcycle is owned by Hansen Beverages of Corona, Calif., according to police.
Connellsville Twp.
Accident reported
State police said no one was injured in a two-vehicle accident on Route 119 at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Police listed the driver of one of the vehicles involved as Joseph S. Dean Jr., 54, of Dunbar.
Dean’s passenger was listed as Debra S. Dean, 53, of Dunbar. The driver of the other vehicle involved was listed as George E. Wettgen IV, 30, of South Connellsville. The passenger in his vehicle was listed as Michael E. Oravetz Jr., 31, of Scottdale.
Cumberland Twp.
Woman arrested
State police in Waynesburg said charges of driving under the influence of alcohol are pending against a 25-year-old Lake Lynn woman. Police stopped the woman for driving with an expired inspection sticker on Route 88 around 3 a.m. Friday.
Redstone Twp.
Man charged
Davy Hornick, 23, of Republic was charged with disorderly conduct after he allegedly caused a disturbance at Solomon Trailer Park at 9:50 p.m. Thursday, state police said.
Redstone Twp.
Vehicle hits guiderail
State police said Clifford L. Hunter, 50, of Uledi was not injured when the car he was driving struck a guiderail on Route 40 east. Police said Hunter was charged as a result of a violation, but did not specify the type of violation or the exact charge.
Dunkard Twp.
Purse stolen
Billie Joe Brady of Dilliner reported that someone broke the window of her car and stole her purse around 4 a.m. Thursday, said state police in Waynesburg.
Brownsville
Warrant served
Borough police served a warrant Thursday against Ryan Neil, 18, of 103 Glenn Lane.
Police said Neil is charged with three counts of criminal mischief and one count of simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct, loitering and prowling and conspiracy to commit criminal mischief.
Police said Neil was taken before Magisterial District Judge Michael J. Defino Jr. He was placed in the Fayette County Prison in lieu of paying a $50,000 cash bond. Neil’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for June, said police.
Brownsville
Checks stolen
Belinda Johnson of Cadwallader Street told borough police Tuesday that checks, including two for $45 and $60, were stolen from her checkbook.
Brownsville
Gun stolen
Deborah Rutherford told borough police Tuesday that someone stole a .22-caliber revolver from her Front Street home about two weeks ago. The gun has a black barrel finish and a plastic handle, said police.
Brownsville
Man cited
Roger Lee Marks, 22, of Brownsville was cited for defiant trespassing Wednesday after he allegedly was found on Harvey Bowers’ Water Street property, said borough police.
Brownsville
Juveniles cited
Borough police cited two juveniles for a curfew violation after being seen near the intersection of Hollow Road and Second Street around 2 a.m. June 14. Police said charges are to be filed against one of the juveniles who allegedly was carrying a small amount of marijuana.
On Tuesday around 2 a.m., police cited two female juveniles for curfew violation after being seen near the intersection of Joiner and Second Street.
Brownsville
Bicycle stolen
Someone stole a yellow Huffy bicycle with black flames from the side porch of a home located along the 500 block of Front Street on June 16, borough police said. Providing a description of the bicycle, police said the bike’s back wheel is bent, the spokes are rusted, the seat is broken and the hand brake is on the right side.
WASHINGTON CO.
Gambling sentencing
Three Washington County men were sentenced in federal court this week on charges related to illegal gambling.
According to U.S. Attorney Marybeth Buchanan, Edmond Alan Cononge, 47, of Canonsburg was sentenced to three years probation and fined $2,000; Manuel Lemonakis, 79, of Canonsburg was sentenced to one year probation and fined $1,000; and John Glass, 59, of Houston was sentenced to three years probation and a $1,000 fine on charges of conspiring to conduct an illegal gambling organization and money laundering related to sports betting and other operations. Investigators seized $385,000 in cash and U.S. Savings bonds and 10 vehicles.
MENALLEN TWP.
Windshield struck
State police at Uniontown charged Steven Martin, 21, of New Salem with criminal mischief after he allegedly struck the windshield of a car owned by Lauren Tate, 20, of Republic with a rock Friday at 4:25 p.m. at the New Salem Mini Mart.
NORTH UNION TWP.
Man charged
State police at Uniontown charged John William Hibbard III, 32, of Uniontown with fleeing and eluding, driving while suspended for driving under the influence, stop sign violations and unauthorized transfer of a title.
Police attempted to stop Hibbard June 15 at 8:08 p.m. for misuse of a registration plate, but Hibbard began to flee. After a short pursuit, the vehicle stopped against a large dirt mound on an ATV trail off Brushwood Road and Hibbard allegedly fled on foot.
Hibbard was taken into custody on a bench warrant on Thursday, June 19, and arraigned before Senior Magisterial Judge Brenda Cavalcante. Bond was set at $1,000 straight cash. A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Wendy Dennis June 25.
OHIOPYLE
Gun stolen
Laura Marietta, 25, of Ohiopyle told state police at Uniontown that someone entered her vehicle and stole a Smith and Wesson .38-caliber revolver, serial number CDL2486, June 15 between 1 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. at 158 Nelson Road, Ohiopyle.