Site last updated: Friday, April 19, 2024

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

POLICE REPORTS

These items have been collected from various police departments.

Butler Twp. Police

Friday — Adam M. Will, 35, of Butler was charged with drugged driving in connection with an April 14 hit-and-run crash on Ritter Street. Police said Will drove away after his pickup truck struck a sport utility vehicle. Officers later found the suspect’s pickup on Blue Grass Drive.

Will is charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and hit-and-run.

Friday — Police charged Jaime M. Jakovac, 36, of Butler with drunken driving stemming from a 2:37 a.m. May 10 traffic stop on Route 8 south.

In addition to DUI, Jakovac is charged with careless driving, disregarding traffic lanes and failing to notify authorities of a change of address.

7:17 p.m. Thursday — One person was hurt when a vehicle driven by Mark E. Morrissey Jr., 30, of Cranberry Township struck the side of another vehicle at Woodlawn and Whitestown roads.

The other driver, Linda Kummer, 45, of Butler, suffered unknown injuries. Police cited Morrissey for a stop sign violation.

Grove City Police

Wednesday — An unknown burglar broke into a house in the 100 block of Garden Avenue between February and Wednesday. The suspect got inside after smashing a rear window.

Nothing was reported missing from the home. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 724-458-7925.

May 19 — A 14-year-old boy was found passed out in the bathroom of a fast-food restaurant on West Main Street. Police suspect the youth had been huffing air duster.

Police charged the boy, who they did not identify, with illegal use of solvents and disorderly conduct.

May 19 — A 16-year-old boy was caught with suspected marijuana at Memorial Park. Police found the boy after they were called to the park for a domestic dispute. The teen, who police did not identify, is charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana.

State Police, Butler

May 19 — An unknown thief stole a tire, wheel and lug nuts off a tanker trailer at Quala Wash on Tanker Lane in Parker Township.

2:33 p.m. May 16 — Marilyn M. Johnston, 84, of Butler was hurt when the sport utility vehicle she was driving collided with another vehicle in Connoquenessing Township.

Police said Johnston crossed the double yellow on Route 68 just west of Hoffman Lane and struck an oncoming car. After the collision, the SUV struck two vehicles parked on the side of the road.

Johnston, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital with unknown injuries. Police cited her for disregarding traffic lanes. Dean A. Barnhart, 60, of Butler was the other driver.

State Police, Franklin

1 a.m. Saturday — Ryan D. Hauser, 18, of Wexford lost control of his pickup truck and crashed into a Dumpster and a tree along Highlands Road just east of Bell Road in Scrubgrass Township. Police said he fled the scene, leaving the damaged truck behind.

Hauser later was identified and charged with hit-and-run, failing to immediately notify police of an accident, driving at an unsafe speed, disregarding traffic lanes, driving with an open container of alcohol, driving with worn tires, driving with an obstructed windshield and not wearing a seat belt.

10:58 a.m. Thursday — Gerad M. Hitchcock, 29, no address given, was arrested after he caused a disturbance aboard a tourist bus at the Travel Centers of America truck stop on Interstate 80 in Barkeyville.

A police report said Hitchcock, an out-of-state resident, was “extremely intoxicated” and harassing employees and customers at the truck stop after traveling there on a Megabus. Hitchcock, who was placed in the Venango County Jail, was cited for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

State Police, Kittanning

1 a.m. Monday — Douglas Latkanich, 23, of Belle Vernon was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence on Clearfield Pike in East Franklin Township.

Sunday — Burglars broke into a 73-year-old man’s home on Hillville Road in Perry Township, Armstrong County. The suspects used a second-floor window to get into the back of the house.

But while climbing through the window, a police report said, the burglars stepped down on a sink and broke the water lines. The suspects left the home through a rear sliding door. The report did not say if police have any suspects.

7:05 p.m. Saturday — A 27-year-old Finleyville, Washington County, man, who police did not identify, was arrested for suspicion of DUI on Route 28 in South Buffalo Township.

11 p.m. Friday — A 24-year-old East Brady woman was accosted by a would-be robber in Manor Township. The woman was on Pleasantville Drive when a man approached her and tried to get into her pockets, telling the victim, “Give me all your money,” according to a police report.

The man left empty-handed. The woman, who police did not identify, was not injured. The report did not say if police have any suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 724-543-2011.

Friday — Seven people were arrested for drunken driving during a DUI checkpoint on Route 28 at exit 13 in East Deer Township. The Allegheny Valley DUI Task Force assisted in the checkpoint.

In all, 276 vehicles were stopped during the detail. Along with the DUI arrests, a fugitive was nabbed and $3,000 in currency was seized. Additionally, 14 citations and 17 warnings were issued.

State Police, Mercer

12:02 p.m. Saturday — George F. Grothusen, 57, of Grove City was hurt when he lost control of his sport utility vehicle while trying to pass another vehicle and crashed on Route 19 about one mile north of Interstate 80 in East Lackawannock Township.

Grothusen and his passenger, Nicole L. Rossi, 39, of Grove City, were both taken to Grove City Medical Center with injuries. A police report described Grothusen’s injuries as “moderate.” The extent of Rossi’s injuries was not known. Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt.

Grothusen later was issued eight traffic tickets.

Police said he was traveling south on Route 19 and tailgating another SUV driven by David M. Thompson, 41, of Mercer. Grothusen eventually tried unsuccessfully to pass the other vehicle in a no-passing zone. He continued to tailgate Thompson.

A short time later, he again tried another pass, this time in a downhill passing zone, but while accelerating to more than 70 mph Grothusen had to veer back into this lane due to oncoming traffic.

The right rear end of Grothusen’s vehicle struck the left front of Thompson’s vehicle. Grothusen’s SUV spun out and off the road, traveling to thick brush and rolling over onto its driver’s side.

Police cited Grothusen for reckless driving, two illegal passing violations, driving on the wrong side of the road, disregarding traffic lanes, following too closely to another vehicle, driving at an unsafe speed and a seat belt violation.

7 p.m. Friday — Connie L. Harig, 40, of Harrisville was hurt in a two-car crash at Henderson and Yankee School roads in Sandy Lake Township. Harig, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered a minor injury. The other driver, Charles B. Kaltenbaugh, 89, of Sandy Lake, was cited for a stop sign violation.

9:05 p.m. Thursday — A car driven by Sandra R. Barnes, 54, of Franklin, Venango County, struck a deer on Interstate 79 in Springfield Township.

State Police, New Castle

Friday — A Clintonville man was unharmed after his older brother allegedly confronted him with a baseball bat and then a gun during an altercation on Vosler Road in Washington Township, Lawrence County.

The suspect, Charles R. Raskowsky Jr., 31, of Washington Township, was arrested and jailed after the confrontation with 23-year-old Heath Raskowsky. Police said the defendant came after his younger sibling with a bat outside his home.

Charles Raskowsky dropped the bat and then pulled a gun. The suspect was arraigned on charges of terroristic threats and placed in the Lawrence County Jail on $5,000 bail.

More in Police Reports

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS