Police Reports
These items have been collected from various police departments.
Butler Police11:17 a.m. Monday — A reported double overdose sent police and emergency crews to an apartment on Highland Street.While crews were on their way to the home, according to the Butler Fire Department, authorities were advised that one patient, a woman, had regained consciousness and fled. Butler Ambulance Service paramedics arrived first and found 23-year-old Sara B. Johnson of Greenville, Mercer County, unresponsive. She was revived with the opioid reversal drug Narcan and refused further medical treatment.The tenant, a 23-year-old woman, told police that she used Narcan herself to revive the woman who fled. Police identified that overdose victim as 27-year-old Courtney Kish. Authorities did not know her address.Authorities said they found several stamp bags and empty bags of suspected heroin and two hypodermic needles at the scene.
Butler Twp Police1:47 a.m. Sunday — John P. Christofano, 48, and Joel W. Hartman, 36, both of Butler were cited for disorderly conduct after police were called to the Looney Toones bar on New Castle Road for a reported large fight.Friday — Seven crashes involving 13 vehicles were investigated on Route 422 west near the Mercer Road overpass during a heavy snow squall and near white-out conditions. The crashes occurred, police said, when drivers were unable to stop their vehicles on snow-covered roads.Three drivers — Billie G. Blostein, 62, of Butler; Theresa Heitzer, 53, of Kittanning; and Kayla M. Tancraitor, 25, of McGrann, Armstrong County — were taken to Butler Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.Butler Township Fire District 3 and the Mercer Road Volunteer Fire Company assisted at the scene. Police said Route 422 west was shut down for more than an hour until the road was cleared.
Butler Twp Police2:44 a.m. Saturday — A 17-year-old Mercer boy was arrested for suspected drugged driving following a traffic stop in the borough.In addition to driving under the influence of a controlled substance, the boy, who police did identify, faces charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and driving without headlights.The teenager was later released to a parent.
Middlesex Twp Police10:05 p.m. Sunday — George S. Zimmerman, 36, was arrested after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, Christina Rotkoski, during a domestic dispute at their home in the 600 block of Old Route 8.Zimmerman is accused of hitting Rotkoski with a pair of pants he swung at her during an argument. He also punched her in the face, court documents said. Police noted the victim had a bleeding wound to the left side of her nose.District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned Zimmerman on charges of simple assault and harassment. He is free on $10,000 bail.
Penn Twp Police6:22 p.m. Sunday — A traffic stop landed Zachary E. Smith, 25, of Butler Township under arrest for felony and misdemeanor drug possession. Police said the charges followed a traffic stop at Route 8 and Rockdale Road.The car was stopped for having an expired registration.A patrol officer said she smelled marijuana coming from the suspect’s vehicle. Smith, a passenger in the car, was searched and found with a marijuana pipe, according to court documents.On the passenger seat, police said, the officer noticed a cell phone open to text messages. One message was a text that Smith sent to someone saying, “I’m pulled over with your stuff dude please wait,” a police affidavit said.Also found was Smith’s backpack that allegedly contained a Mason jar filled with suspected marijuana, a scale, rolling papers, marijuana grinder and pipe, and a notebook believed to detail what alleged drug buyers owed.Police said the seized items were evidence of “drug trafficking.”The suspect was taken to the police station where he admitted the bag and marijuana were his, documents said.District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned Smith on charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He is free on $30,000 bail.
State Police, Butler2:02 a.m. Monday — Owen C. Barkley, 24, of Butler was arrested for felony drug possession following a traffic stop in Butler. Police said they pulled over his pickup truck on South Monroe Street for not having a rear bumper.Barkley, who appeared impaired, admitted that he had a “jar of marijuana” in the trunk, according to court documents. Police looked in the trunk and found a one-quart Mason jar that contained a little more than 2 ounces of suspected marijuana.The suspect was arrested after failing field sobriety tests. He was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital for a blood test. Toxicology reports are pending.District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned Barkley on a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.Additionally, he is charged with driving without a required bumper, careless driving and not wearing a seat belt.Barkley is free on $10,000 bail.3 p.m. Sunday — Patrick J. Pickering, 37, of Butler was arrested after he allegedly held a woman against her will during a domestic dispute in Harrisville.Police said Pickering got into an argument with the victim, Laura A. Elliott, at her home in the 200 block of South Main Street after she told him she wanted to end their relationship, according to court documents.When Elliott told Pickering to leave, he became angry and pushed her. She retreated to a bedroom, where the suspect locked her in and “would not allow her to leave,” documents said.The victim eventually tried to escape out of a window, police said. The defendant grabbed her by the arm and shirt and attempted to drag her back into the bedroom, tearing her shirt.Pickering is accused of taking the woman’s car keys and fleeing, but not before letting the air out of one of the vehicle’s front tires.District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned the suspect on charges of unlawful restraint, defiant trespass, theft, criminal mischief and harassment. He remains in the Butler County Prison on $30,000 bail.
