POLICE REPORTS
These items have been collected from various police departments.
12:07 a.m. Tuesday — Cars driven by Sherri D. Ietto, 57, and Kala D. Vose, 19, both of Butler, collided at McKean and Jefferson streets. The crash happened when Ietto failed to stop at a flashing red light at the intersection.The impact forced Vose's car off the road, causing it to hit a school zone sign.Monday — Amber Lynn Harris, 19, and Dane B. Blum, 21, both of Gibsonia, allegedly tried to steal about $125 worth of cosmetics from the Kmart store at Pullman Square.Store security caught the suspects concealing several items before attempting to leave the store. Harris and Blum both face charges of retail theft.
3:05 p.m. Monday — Doris Sopher, 83, of Harrisville failed to remain stopped in her car for a school crossing guard at Liberty and Main streets. Police said when Sopher drove away she nearly struck the guard. She was cited for failing to obey an authorized person directing traffic.
3:57 p.m. Tuesday — A Butler man driving distracted on his cell phone was blamed for a collision in Connoquenessing Township.The crash happened when Thomas A. Watterson, 33, struck the rear of a sport utility vehicle on Route 68 just west of Whitestown Road. Police cited Watterson for careless driving and not wearing a seat belt. Donald L. Querry, 42, of Butler was the other driver.Monday — A vandal slashed both rear tires of a woman's car at her home in the 100 block of Railroad Street in Chicora. The vandalism occurred between 6 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.9:10 a.m. Sunday — A car driven by Sally A. Lander, 43, of Greensburg, Westmoreland County, spun out on an ice patch and crashed into a ditch on Interstate 79 just west of West Park Road in Worth Township.9:30 p.m. Saturday — A vandal damaged two mailboxes on Leslie Road in Forward Township.8:30 p.m. Saturday — An unidentified vehicle struck a car parked on the side of Main Street in Petrolia and did not stop after the crash.3:46 a.m. Friday — Patrick M. Knights, 23, of Evans City was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence after he crashed on Denny Road in Middlesex Township.Friday — A 200-gallon gas tank was stolen from a home on Route 19 in Muddy Creek Township. The stolen property is valued at $200.
4:32 a.m. Tuesday — A thief managed to get away after he was caught breaking into two unlocked pickup trucks in the driveway of a home in the 1200 block of Lenape Avenue in Manor Township.The suspect is described as white, 5 feet, 8 inches tall with a stocky build. He was wearing a dark-colored jacket or hooded sweat shirt. Police believe he entered both trucks, taking about $10 in change from both vehicles.A woman, who owns one of the trucks, saw the thief and yelled at him. He claimed he was looking for his dog and then walked away toward Route 66.Anyone with information about the case is asked to call police at 724-543-2011.Tuesday — Police filed seven criminal charges and a dozen traffic violations against a Worthington man stemming from a Nov. 15 crash that ended with his car hitting a house in Boggs Township.Victor E. Protsman, 33, lost control of his 2004 Buick Century about 12:50 a.m. on Oscar Road after allegedly running a stop sign. The car crossed both lanes, traveled through a yard and hit a retaining wall and deck support post before hitting the house, which was occupied.It was not known if Protsman, who left the scene, or his passenger, a 33-year-old Kittanning woman, were injured. Neither was wearing a seat belt. No one in the house was hurt.Police charged Protsman with five counts of reckless endangerment and a lone count each of criminal mischief and hit-and-run.Additionally, he was cited for failing to stop or render aid after an accident, failing to immediately notify police of an accident, abandoning a vehicle on private property, damaging property by vehicle, careless driving and reckless drivingHe also was ticketed for not stopping at a stop sign, disregarding traffic lanes, driving too fast for conditions, failing to notify authorities of a change of name or address and a seat belt violation.5:50 a.m. Monday — James M. Thalman, 58, of Butler lost control of his pickup truck on ice-covered Route 28 and struck a wire guardrail about one mile north of exit 15 in Harrison Township, Allegheny County.The truck's front driver's side axel, which became hung up on the wire rail, traveled another 66 feet on the rail before stopping.Police said Thalman faces a ticket for driving too fast for conditions.Monday — Scott L. Musthaf, 42, of Chicora was arrested after violating a protection from abuse order by showing up at the victim's home on Route 268 in Sugarcreek Township. He banged on the doors and windows and asking to be let in.Musthaf was arraigned on a charge of indirect criminal contempt and placed in the Armstrong County Jail on $1,500 bail.6:06 p.m. Dec. 27 — Stephen D. Hartle, 63, of Grove City was hurt when he lost control of his car and a struck a guardrail on Wampum Road just north of Jockey Moore Road in Wayne Township.Hartle, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to Ellwood City Hospital with moderate injuries. Police cited him for driving too fast for conditions.
