[naviga:h3]Butler Township Police[/naviga:h3]

1:27 p.m. Monday — A pickup truck driven by Brian Smith, 50, of Renfrew collided with a minivan on New Castle Road in front of Burger King. William Malick, 74, of Saxonburg was the other driver. No one was injured, but both vehicles had to be towed.

[naviga:h3]Butler County Sheriff’s Office[/naviga:h3]

Monday — Eric R. Deem, 46, of Butler Township was charged with having marijuana in a cigarette hard pack last week at the Butler County Government Center. Deputies said Deem set off the alarm about 11 a.m. Dec. 10 when he passed through the metal detector at the front lobby. A hand-held detector turned up the alleged contraband, according to court documents. Deem is charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

[naviga:h3]State Police, Butler[/naviga:h3]

Wednesday — Police obtained an arrest warrant for Rhonda L. Claypoole, 26, of Worthington, Armstrong County, who is accused of shoplifting merchandise Dec. 15 at the Playthings Etc. store on Route 8 in Clay Township. Since Claypoole has two prior shoplifting convictions, she is charged in the warrant with a felony count of retail theft. Police said Claypoole is seen on store surveillance video taking unpaid items totaling $18.99.

Monday — John J. Klingensmith, 43, of Clinton Township was arraigned on charges that he illegally tried to buy a firearm earlier this year at a store at Clearview Mall in Center Township. Police said Klingensmith allegedly provided false information on a background check form that was required Aug. 10 when he attempted to buy a 9 mm handgun at Rural King. He is charged with unlawfully attempting to buy a firearm, a felony, and unsworn falsification to authorities, a misdemeanor. He is free on his own recognizance.

Monday — Police charged Melissa L. Rocco, 42, of Kittanning, Armstrong County, with shoplifting more than $1,167.97 worth of jewelry and clothing items last month at the Clearview Mall Boscov’s store in Center Township. The defendant was caught Nov. 24, according to court documents, walking out of the store with the unpaid merchandise. She is charged with a misdemeanor count of retail theft.

Dec. 13 — Amy L. Benfer, 28, of Butler Township was charged with drugged driving stemming from a traffic stop last month in Butler Township. She was stopped about 9:05 p.m. Nov. 23 for driving with a faulty headlight on Old Plank Road. Police said Benfer acknowledged that she had recently smoked marijuana, according to court documents. She failed field sobriety tests and was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital for a blood test. Toxicology results indicated she had marijuana in her system. She is charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, careless driving, a headlight violation, driving a vehicle without valid inspection, and seat belt and child booster seat violations.

Dec. 13 — Police charged an Erie County teenager with drugged driving in connection with a traffic stop last month in Butler Township. Jacob R. Jones, 19, of Erie was pulled over about 11:25 p.m. Nov. 20 after police say he crossed the white fog line and center line on Route 68. He also was allegedly traveling 55 mph in a 45 mph zone on South Eberhart Road. Police said Jones admitted he smoked marijuana earlier that evening and troopers found him with a plastic baggie containing suspected marijuana and two drug-smoking devices. The defendant was given field sobriety tests, according to court documents, and showed impairment. Toxicology reports from a subsequent blood test at Butler Memorial Hospital confirmed he had marijuana in his system.

Jones is charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, failing to keep right, disregarding traffic lanes, speeding, and failing to use turn signals and hazard lights.

[naviga:h3]State Police, Kittanning[/naviga:h3]

Monday — After a traffic stop Dec. 3 in East Franklin Township, Melinda S. Livengood, 31, of Kittanning was charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with an open container of alcohol, a stop sign violation and driving a vehicle with unsafe equipment.

Her passenger, Sean J. Repak, 35, of Kittanning, is charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana.