POLICE REPORTS
These items have been collected from various police departments.
Monday — Police charged Christopher S. Jacobs, 32, of Butler with misdemeanor drug possession after he was found with suspected crack cocaine last week at an apartment in the 100 block of South Main Street.Officers were called to the apartment for a disturbance about 12:02 a.m. Wednesday and found Jacobs there. While investigating, police alleged the suspect tossed on the ground a baggie corner containing crack. He is charged with possession of a controlled substance.11:19 p.m. Sunday — A car driven by Caressa L. Cribbs, 22, of Lyndora rear-ended another car on West New Castle at Fourth Avenue. Dylan Hinchberger, 19, of Portersville was the other driver.Nov. 18 — James J. Tiani, 54, no known address, was arrested following a disturbance about 7:15 p.m. at the A-Plus convenience store on East Jefferson Street.Store employees reported that Tiani was bothering customers. Police got there and found the suspect, who appeared to be intoxicated, near the front doors.Officers spoke to customers who accused Tiani of being “confrontational toward them,” according to court documents. He also allegedly claimed he had a gun.Additionally, employees recounted that the defendant tried to leave the store without paying for three sandwiches. Police noted that Tiani previously was told he was not permitted at the store following a Sept. 16 incident.Tiani was arraigned on charges of defiant trespass, retail theft and public drunkenness, and later placed in the Butler County Prison on $5,000 bail.
2:38 p.m. Friday — Steve D. Saeler, 35, of Butler was caught allegedly shoplifting about $368 in DVDs from Walmart in Butler Commons. Saeler fled the store but was identified by store surveillance cameras. He is charged with felony retail theft.2:36 p.m. Friday — Vehicles driven by Lesley Smieszek, 25, of Kittanning and Larry Steals, 51, of Ambridge, Beaver County, collided at Harrison and Wilkes avenues.2:06 p.m. Friday — John McClure is accused of pilfering merchandise worth $567 from the Butler Commons' Walmart. McClure fled the store but was found later and charged with felony retail theft and driving with a suspended license.1:30 p.m. Thursday — David Masdea, 41, of Lyndora faces drug charges after he was arrested on a warrant. Police said they found Masdea with suspected cocaine and drug contraband. He is charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
Monday — Police charged Gary J. Tichansky, 28, of Butler with drunken driving stemming from a 6:40 p.m. Nov. 2 traffic stop at routes 8 and 173 in Brady Township.In addition to driving under the influence, Tichansky is charged with driving with a suspended license, disregarding traffic lanes, careless driving, a stop sign violation, driving with an open container of alcohol and not wearing a seat belt.Friday — James E. Brandt, 26, of Portersville was arrested after he allegedly stole auto parts from Keystone Spring Service in Muddy Creek Township. Brandt is accused of taking items, valued at $110, from the store between 2:30 and 3 p.m.Brandt was arraigned on charges of theft and retail theft, and placed in the Butler County Prison on $15,000 bail.1:54 a.m. Nov. 12 — Krista L. Geelen, 21, of Emporium, Cameron County, was arrested for suspicion of DUI after her car crashed into a utility pole along Cornish Drive near Elm Street in Slippery Rock.11:55 p.m. Nov. 11 — Charles W. Shaffer, 38, of Emlenton, Venango County, was hurt when the pickup truck he was driving hit an embankment and rolled onto its passenger side on Sandy Point Road, just north of Milford Road in Allegheny Township.Shaffer, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to UPMC Northwest in Seneca with minor injuries. Police said he was cited for a lane violation.3:37 a.m. Nov. 8 — Kaylin J. McClelland, 20, of Portersville was arrested for suspicion of DUI after her car slammed into a utility pole along West Liberty Road in Worth Township.
9 p.m. Saturday — A Butler girl was hurt in a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 80 in Beaver Township. The child was riding in a sport utility vehicle that was hit by an unidentified vehicle, which did not stop. Shianne M. Hays, 22, of Franklin, Venango County, was driving the SUV. The girl, who was in a child safety seat, suffered minor injuries.
8 a.m. Thursday — One person was hurt when two rigs collided on Interstate 80 in Wolf Creek Township.The crash happened after one of the drivers, Anthony A. Branch-Aberdeen, 22, of Covington, Ga., apparently fell asleep. Police said his tractor-trailer drifted into the left lane, hitting the back of a tractor-trailer driven by Michael R. Shaulis, 41, of Hollsopple, Somerset County.Following the collision, Branch-Aberdeen's truck rolled into a ditch and landed on its roof. Branch-Aberdeen was treated at Grove City Medical Center, Pine Township.