Site last updated: Monday, April 27, 2026

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Police Reports

These items have been collected from various police departments.

2:22 p.m. Saturday — One person was hurt when a car driven by Ruth H. Wright, 87, of Butler rear-ended another car on Center Avenue. Carol Missler, 69, of Cabot, a passenger in the other car driven by Rudolph E. Missler, 74, of Cabot, was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital with unknown injuries. All three occupants were wearing seat belts.12:45 a.m. Saturday — Brandon R. Foy, 19, of Butler allegedly led police on a high-speed chase in and out of the city. During the case, speeds reached in excess of 90 mph on Route 68 in Butler Township.City officers pursued Foy's Mitsubishi for nearly 2 miles before losing sight of his car. Police ended the pursuit, noting the roads were wet and it was still raining.Later that night, documents said, Foy showed up at the police station and confessed to the crime. He admitted that when he saw police he “panicked” because he did not have a license.Foy is charged with a misdemeanor count of fleeing or attempting to elude police. He also was cited for speeding and driving without a license.Saturday — Michael Paul Jason Chute, 34, of Butler was arrested on charges he molested and groped a woman July 21 at a home on West Walnut Street. He also allegedly bit the woman on her arm.Chute was arraigned on two counts of indecent assault and a charge of simple assault, and placed in the Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail.Thursday — An unknown thief overnight stole the Pennsylvania license plate JHJ137 from a vehicle parked near the owner's home in the 700 block of South Main Street.Wednesday — Police accused Wyatt B. McCauley, 42, of Butler of altering two $11 checks he received as payment for delivering newspapers in June and July. The suspect allegedly changed one of the checks to read $111. The next month, according to court documents, he changed the check to read $211.The alleged victim, Kenneth Chenot of Butler, recently discovered both checks were cashed, after reviewing his bank account statements.McCauley is charged with forgery.

2:03 p.m. Sunday — Jazmyn Sparks-Schuler, 20, of Manchester, Mo., was arrested after she allegedly used a child to shoplift a bracelet from the Kohl's store at the Butler Crossing shopping plaza.Sparks-Schuler took the bracelet, worth $40, and handed it to the 14-year-old girl, who hid it in her bra. The woman then took two other bracelets, valued at a combined $42, according to court documents. A store security officer stopped Sparks-Schuler and the child and notified police.District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned Sparks-Schuler on charges of corruption of minors and retail theft. She was placed in the Butler County Prison on $3,000 bail, following arraignment.5:50 p.m. Saturday — Vehicles driven by Karli Birch, 17, of Fenelton and Alexander McCandless, 19, of Cabot collided at Belmont Road and Arch Street. The crash sent Birch's vehicle spinning into a traffic sign.Saturday — Brian D. Booth, 31, of Donegal Township is accused of stealing a gold cross and ring, valued at $450, and taking $50 in currency July 16 from Thomas and Danielle Ortz's home on Green Manor Drive in Jefferson Township.District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned Booth on a charge of theft. Later, he was placed in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail.11:22 a.m. Friday — Derek Hileman, 26, of Butler was hurt when the motorcycle he was driving collided with a sport utility vehicle at Route 356 and Hindman Road. Hileman was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital with unspecified injuries.The other driver, Carol Grady, 70, of Callery caused the wreck after she turned in front of the cycle, according to a police report. Grady was cited for making an improper left turn and careless drivingHileman was cited for not wearing a helmet while driving the motorcycle with a learner's permit.

11:10 p.m. Thursday — David A. Symer, 47, was arrested after he allegedly assaulted Kelly Schaffer during a domestic dispute at their Boyd Drive home.Symer is accused of snatching Schaffer by the throat and grabbing her arm. Additionally, he struck the woman on the forehead. Schaffer suffered bumps and bruises and a bloody lower lip.Symer was arraigned on charges of simple assault and harassment, and placed in the Butler County Prison on $1,500 bail.

Friday — Timothy C. Miles, 53, of Pittsburgh was arraigned on a charge he stole a 42-inch television from the Wal-Mart on Route 19 about 8:10 p.m. April 7.Police alleged Miles placed the $398 television into the trunk of his car before driving away, according to court documents.The Northern Regional Police Department previously arrested Miles in connection with a shoplifting case, also on April 7, at the Wal-Mart in Richland Township, Allegheny County.Surveillance video from both stores identified Miles as the same shoplifter in both thefts.Miles was arraigned on a misdemeanor count of retail theft for the suspected Cranberry Township shoplifting, and placed in the Butler County Prison on $5,000 bail.He faces a preliminary hearing next month on retail theft charges stemming from the Allegheny County case.

9 p.m. Friday — John Wayne O'Donnell Jr., 32, of Lyndora was arrested after allegedly selling six stamp bags of heroin to another man for $60 near his home on Bessemer Avenue in Butler Township.District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned O'Donnell on charges of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. He is in the Butler County Prison $50,000 bail.

8:10 p.m. Sunday — Joshua A. Etzel, 19, of Butler was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence after a one-vehicle crash at Cornetti and McClafferty roads in Clearfield Township.7 p.m. Sunday — Garrett M. Prorok, 27, of Harrisville was arrested after allegedly attacking his wife, 26-year-old Jessica L. Ferguson, during a domestic dispute at his in-law's house on Casper Lane in Clay Township. Ferguson suffered minor bruising to her arm and thigh.District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned Prorok on charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment. He was placed in the Butler County Prison on $1,000 bail.12:38 a.m. Sunday — Michael J. Gallagher, 29, of Slippery Rock was arrested after allegedly causing an alcohol-fueled disturbance at the Slippery Rock Campground in Slippery Rock Township.Gallagher was being held down by his mother and an unidentified man when troopers got to the camp. But after being let up, he started yelling and waking up other campers.Told to be quiet, he responded by calling the troopers derogatory names. The suspect's tirade continued even after police warned they would take him to jail if he didn't calm down.Moments later, Gallagher was arrested on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and harassment, and a summary count of public drunkenness. He was placed in the Butler County Prison on $3,000 bail, following arraignment.6:15 p.m. Saturday — Cars driven by Patricia Hornyak, 70, of Slippery Rock and Benjamin M. Miller, 17, of Portersville collided at East Portersville and Pleasant Valley roads in Muddy Creek Township. Hornyak was cited for a stop sign violation.6:28 p.m. Friday — Nadine R. Staab, 22, of Harrisville lost control of her sport utility vehicle while trying to make room for a passing hay truck and struck a tree along Hall Road just north of Hunt Road in Clay Township.11:30 p.m. Thursday — William E. Young, 65, was arrested after allegedly grabbing Linda Mauthe by her arm during an argument at his home on Wycliffe Way in Franklin Township. The woman suffered bruising to her left arm.District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned Young on charges of simple assault and harassment. He was placed in the Butler County Prison on $2,000 bail.7:12 p.m. Thursday — A car driven by Molly L. Vukich, 27, of Zelienople and a pickup truck driven by James W. Weaver, 53, of Jackson Center, Mercer County, collided at Roue 68 and Kriess Road in Connoquenessing Township. Vukich was cited for an undisclosed traffic violation.July 30 — Forty-five aluminum rims were stolen from Lockaton Salvage Yard on Herman Road in Summit Township. The rims, valued at $720, were taken between July 16 and 30.

6:15 a.m. Sunday — A sport utility vehicle rolled on Interstate 80 in Allegheny Township, Butler County. The driver, Peter J. Nastu, 26, of Bridgeport, Conn., was cited for careless driving, a police report said.10:10 p.m. Saturday — Cindy Harnish, 46, of Parker was arrested after she drove to a man's home on Main Street in St. Petersburg, despite being warned by police to stay away. Harnish was arraigned on charges of stalking, trespass and harassment, and placed in the Clarion County Jail on $10,000 bail.Wednesday — A thief stole a Rimersburg woman's medication on Ridgeview Avenue in Madison Township. The theft happened between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

9:20 p.m. Sunday — A 16-year-old Ford City girl, who police did not identify, suffered moderate injuries when a car struck her as she walked on the side of Little Germany Road in Kittanning Township. The front bumper of the car, driven by Emily S. Shumaker, 19, of Rural Valley, hit the girl's legs, knocking her into a ditch.A medical helicopter flew the 16-year-old to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh. Her condition was not known this morning.12:15 p.m. Saturday — An unspecified amount of money was stolen from an 88-year-old woman's purse at her house on Cherry Tree Lane in East Franklin Township.

Monday — Police are investigating an alleged assault in which a 14-year-old boy threw a flaming plastic bottle of gasoline at another boy on Walnut Tree Lane in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County. The other child, a 13-year-old, suffered burns to one of his legs.

More in Police Reports

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS