Area Police Beat

Drug arrests reported

Emporium Borough Police recently charged three more people in connection with an ongoing investigation, in cooperation with the Erie Regional Drug Task Force.

Russell Hoffower, 18, and George A. Singer Jr., both of Emporium, and Dale A. Walker, Mt. Jewett, are each charged with manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance, as well as using a communication device to commit a drug offense.

Copper theft arrests

Two men are facing criminal charges in connection with the theft of about 40 pounds of copper wire from railroad tracks at Gardeau, near the McKean/Cameron county border, last Friday afternoon.

State police at Kane identified the suspects as Nicholas Weber, 26, and Travis Mabee, 24, both of Cattaraugus County, N.Y.

Troopers allege that the pair took the copper wire, owned by Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad, from a section of tracks about two miles south of the Potter County line in Norwich Township, McKean County. They were reportedly seen cutting, stripping and coiling wire by witnesses who reported the sightings to state police at the Emporium barracks.

When troopers arrived, they allegedly found the suspects in Wilber's car with numerous sections of copper wire and tools in the back seat. Wilber and Mabee were arraigned before District Judge William Todd on charges of conspiracy, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief, as well as theft.

Police reported that Wilber had previously been charged with copper thefts. The two defendants are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Monday before Judge Todd.

Accused of assault

A Coudersport man has been jailed in lieu of $15,000 bail on numerous charges following an alleged domestic violence incident Sunday morning at his home on Dwight Street.

State police claim 21-yearold Dennis Leber choked a 20- year-old woman and threatened both her and her family. He was arraigned before District Judge Delores Bristol on charges of terroristic threats, simple assault and prohibited offensive weapons. Officers also found a small novelty item which Leber admitted stealing from a retailer in Galeton last month.

Marijuana charge

State police at Denton Hill have charged 19-year-old Christopher Bice of Ulysses with violating state drug laws and corrupting the morals of a minor.

Acting on a tip, officers searched Bice's vehicle, where they allegedly found four plastic bags containing marijuana, a pipe and related paraphernalia.

The corruption charge stems from a statement by a 17-yearold boy who said Bice supplied him with marijuana on two occasions in March.

DUI charge filed

An Emporium driver was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after a one-vehicle crash on the afternoon of April 6 on Rt. 46 in Shippen Township.

State police report that 53- year-old John Sandrovich lost control of his vehicle, which entered a ditch and struck a cement culvert.

Gardeau Road mishap

A Roulette driver escaped injury in a one-vehicle mishap late Monday night on the Gardeau Road in Shippen Township, Cameron County.

State police from Emporium report that Adam Sallade was headed south when his 2000 Saturn went off the road and the right front tire got caught on a railroad track, causing the car to slide sideways before coming to rest on the west side of the road. Sallade was wearing a seat belt at the time, according to police.

Fugitive nabbed

A McKean County man who was a fugitive from North Carolina is back in custody after being stopped for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol on Rt. 6, between Coudersport and Roulette.

State police from Denton Hill apprehended Thomas Sherwood, 28, of Port Allegany when they observed him driving erratically. They then discovered that he was wanted in North Carolina for probation and parole violations.

Arraigned before District Judge Annette Easton, Sherwood was committed to the Potter County jail in lieu of $52,000 bail.

Illegal dumping

Emporium-based state police have charged 54-year-old Michele Myers of Emporium with scattering rubbish.

Officer allege that Myers deposited two bags full of trash at a dirt pull-off area along Route 120, about four miles east of Emporium in Lumber Township, last Tuesday.

Pony poisoned?

Suspicious death of a pony in Eulalia Township is under investigation by state police from the Denton Hill barracks.

Police say a pony owned by Kimberly Kightlinger became ill and died two days later. The animal showed symptoms of being poisoned, police said. The pony was valued at $2,000. Police are asking that anyone with information about the cruelty incident contact them at 274-8690.

Opening day setback

A downstate man who came to Potter County for the opening day of trout season was victimized Friday night in the village of Cross Fork.

According to state police from Denton Hill, someone stole Orvis fishing rods and reels from a vehicle owned by David Kephart of Portage while it was parked outside a business in that Stewardson Township community.

Missing items were valued at about $2,650 and the vehicle sustained $800 in damage.

Crashed and fled

State police from the Denton Hill barracks are charging a Galeton man with hit and run after he wrecked his car last Thursday.

Officers allege that Joseph Mahoney, 47, was driving a westbound Subaru Outback that went off the south berm on the West Branch road, traveled down a 35-foot embankment and struck a tree. Mahoney allegedly fled the scene without notifying authorities.

Hit and run cases

Two hit and run incidents occurring Sunday morning in southern Potter County remain under investigation by state police.

A northbound vehicle went off of the First Fork Road in Sylvania Township and stuck two steel posts with reflectors and a pine tree on property owned by Blaine Miller.

An unknown vehicle damaged a rear quarter panel and tail light on vehicle owned by James Czepiel of Austin while it was parked at a business in Costello.

Sticky situation

An Olean, N.Y., driver whose pickup truck got stuck in the mud near the village of Roulette faces numerous charges.

State police from Denton Hill came upon the truck, occupied by 47-year-old Douglas Phillips, early Sunday morning on Rt. 6, just west of Roulette. He was taken to Charles Cole Hospital for chemical testing and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Phillips was also cited for possession of marijuana.

Guns, rings stolen

Two guns and a pair of Masonic rings were stolen from a southeastern Potter County residence last week.

Police report that someone entered the residence of Edward Balch on the Ridge Road in Abbott Township and removed the items, which had a total value of approximately $2,300.