Police Reports
These items have been collected from various police departments.
1:47 a.m. Sunday — Three unknown would-be thieves tried to break into a woman's car in the 100 block of Cleveland Street. The owner yelled at the suspects, who ran away.The trio was last seen running south on Mercer Street. Police searched the area but did not find the suspects.Sunday — Police accused Justin W. Tirk, 21, of Butler with fraudulently using a woman's bank debit card at several stores in the city and Butler Township.The woman on Friday told police that her card was used five times to make $130.47 in unauthorized purchases. She said she suspected Tirk because he had recently visited her home.Tirk showed up at the police station on Sunday to turn himself in on a bench warrant in an unrelated case. When officers asked him about using the woman's debit card, he initially denied any wrongdoing.Later, according to a police report, he admitted using the card without the woman's permission. He is charged with access device fraud.10:34 p.m. Saturday — Rose M. Comly, 46, of Butler was found with suspected drugs and contraband following a traffic stop on East Wayne Street.Police said when they approached Comly's car they noticed part of a plastic baggie sticking out of a front pant's pocket. She admitted having drugs with her, a police report said.Officers searched her and found that the baggie contained suspected crack cocaine. Police said they also turned up three stamp bags of suspected heroin and a crack pipe.Comly is charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended license.6:16 a.m. Saturday — A car crashed into a guardrail on Alpha Avenue, but no one was there when police learned of the accident.Officers tracked down the owner, Robert Young, 71, who lives nearby. Young claimed he was not driving the car when it crashed.He told officers that someone must have thrown off the emergency brake, a police report said, causing the vehicle to wreck.Police noted the car was inspected but officers found no evidence that the car had been tampered with, according to the report.Saturday — Someone overnight smashed out a window of the First Baptist Church's youth center building on West Jefferson Street. Police found a small amount of blood on some of the broken pieces of the window that had fallen into the building.Officers contacted Butler Memorial Hospital to inquire if anyone had recently shown up there with a possible hand injury. The hospital told police they had not treated anyone for that kind of injury.Police have no suspects. Damage was estimated at $500.5:11 p.m. Friday — A vehicle driven by Terry H. Craig, 67, of Butler struck a Cabot woman's vehicle parked at North Sixth and American avenues. Police said Craig drove away; a neighbor, however, saw the crash.Officers eventually tracked down Craig, who faces tickets for hit-and-run and careless driving.
Saturday — An unknown burglar broke into a home in the 200 block of Birckbichler Road in Fairview Township. The suspect opened the basement door before stealing a refrigerator that was on the rear porch.The break-in and theft happened between Jan. 28 and Saturday.12:15 p.m. Thursday — Mathew R. Peffer, 39, of Evans City was hurt when a car rear-ended his sport utility vehicle that was stopped at a red light on Route 8 at the Clearview Mall in Center Township. Peffer, who was wearing a set belt, suffered minor injuries.Police said the other driver Cathy J. Mackalica, 63, of Butler, was cited for following too closely to another vehicle.
