Police Report 9/22 - 9/28

Port Allegany Police provided jail-to-judge transportation, dealt with a number of domestic and family law matters, kept a parent from transporting a child while apparently under the influence, investigated the theft of manhole covers, and performed other law enforcement duties in the week that began Monday, September 22.

Last Monday at 11:30 a.m. Chief Dave Distrola was dispatched to 809 North Main Street where it was reported that a motor vehicle had been stolen. He learned that the registered owner had removed the vehicle, and no crime had been committed.

At 12:45 p.m. Distrola went to a North Main Street address for a reported domestic dispute. It turned out that the occupants were disagreeing over who was allowed to be on the property and who was in control of the property. Distrola advised them to contact an attorney or a therapist for assistance in resolving their issues. All parties were advised to refrain from engaging in a physical altercation, for that could result in an arrest.

Last Tuesday at 9:23 a.m. Distrola was contacted by a resident of 311 Arnold Avenue about retrieving property that was said to be retained by a family member. The family member was contacted and agreed to return the property.

At 11:56 a.m. Distrola received an anonymous tip that occupants of a Mill Street residence were arguing outside the residence. Distrola drove by the residence several times but did not see or hear argument.

At 12:40 p.m. Distrola was requested to speak to a three-year-old child on Catlin Avenue about the child’s behavior. The parent was looking for advice about controlling and disciplining the child.

At 5:30 p.m. Officer Adam Dickerson received a complaint of harassment from a person who had been walking on Church Street when residents there called him a pedophile and a child molester. Distrola advised the name callers to refrain from that behavior.

Last Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. Distrola received a report of the theft of money from a purse. This was said to have occurred the previous Sunday when the complainant had been visiting a relative on Kromas Avenue. The caller thought the theft might have been by some non-relatives who had been visiting at the same time.

At 2:30 p.m. Distrola went to the scene of a two-car crash just past the borough line on Route 155 North. He stood by until Pennsylvania State Police arrived.

At 5:30 p.m. Dickerson picked up Antwan Cunningham at the Potter County Jail and took him to his arraignment before Magisterial District Judge William Todd in Smethport. Cunningham had been jailed in Potter County earlier after being implicated in a physical altercation in Port Allegany in which he is alleged to have cut another person with a knife. Cunningham was remanded to McKean County Jail in lieu of $75,000 straight bail.

Thursday at 12:01 p.m. Distrola received a call about a red Jeep having been parked in the Ardagh employee park on Mill Street for a week. The vehicle later was found to have been removed without prompting by the police.

At 1:30 p.m. Distrola received information that persons in a maroon truck were removing scrap metal from the construction staging area at the end of the borough building. The caller said he had pulled in and had observed two males loading scrap manhole covers and spacers into the truck, which was described as a Ford F150 older model with an extended cab. The driver was tentatively identified as a Brooklynside resident. Distrola tried to contact that individual but did not reach him. The scrap metal had been accumulated in connection with sewer line replacement along Harrison Street and Mill Street.

At 4:45 p.m. Dickerson responded to a crash at North Main Street at Vine Street. His report indicated that Larry Mead, age 76, of East Vine Street had been driving a 2013 Ford Edge west on East Vine Street when he reached North Main Street, stopped and then proceeded onto North Main Street without clearance. He pulled into the path of a 2007 dodge Nitro operated by Patricia Babcock, age 37, of Pearl Street. Babcock was unable to stop in time to avoid colliding with Mead’s vehicle. Neither driver was injured. Mead’s vehicle was towed from the scene.

At 9:10 p.m. Dickerson received a report of a scam in which a caller had notified the complainant of winning $9,000, which could be claimed by going to Rite Aid and buying a Green Dot packet.

At 9:50 p.m. Dickerson was called to a Katherine Street residence where a parent suspected of being under the influence was trying to leave the house with the child. Dickerson told the parent not to leave the residence, and the parent agreed to stay.

Friday at 8:10 a.m. Officer Kyle Day was dispatched to the 400 block of East Mill Street where an electrical transformer malfunction had left several residents without power. The electric company sent a crew to make repairs, which were accomplished within 24 hours.

At 1:30 p.m. Day assisted with traffic control so that a group of students could cross the street for a reading on the Square.

At 5:50 p.m. Officer Tony Tanner received a report of a possible scam in which some female juveniles were going around collecting money for candle orders said to be for a sick person. The caller indicated that the “candle sales” were a scam and provided the name of the person they claimed to be collecting for. The matter is under investigation.

At 7:48 p.m. Tanner was called to 3:10 North Main Street for a “family feud.” Tanner advised the occupants to refrain from agitating each other. One element of the group agreed to leave for the evening.

Saturday at 12:45 a.m. Tanner arrested Anthony Robson, age 24, of 251 Beers Hollow Road, Eldred on suspicion of DUI. Robson was pulled over on North Main Street for operating a vehicle without a registration plate. Charges are pending receipt of lab results from a blood test.

At 2:40 a.m. Tanner received information concerning a suspicious person wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt hanging out at the Port Freeze. Tanner was unable to find anyone in the area.

At 4 a.m. Tanner unlocked a car for an owner, at Sheetz, only to find there were no keys in the car.

At 9 a.m. Day received a report of a theft from an unsecured motor vehicle at 45 Church Street. The caller said a purse had been removed.

An hour later Day received a report of another theft from a motor vehicle, this one at 35 Church Street. The caller said tools and a firearm had been removed.

At noon Day received a report of an intoxicated male at 93 Katherine Street. The caller indicated that a known person had dropped off a child and left. The caller said the male was under the influence of narcotics. Day was unable to indicate the subject.

At 2:3- p.m. Day unlocked a motor vehicle at the port Motel.

At 4:40 p.m. Tanner was dispatched to 93 Katherine Street for a report of a man acting strangely. Tanner discovered that a male, the subject of an earlier call, had arrived with his girlfriend, and that both appeared to be under the influence of drugs. Tanner found that the female, Michelle Moate, had an active warrant from Cameron County Probation. She was detained and turned over to the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department for transportation to the Cameron County Jail. The male party was left at the residence.

At 11:16 p.m. Tanner discovered Jake Tarr of 310 North Main Street in violation of state parole conditions in that he was out after his curfew. Tanner notified the assigned parole agent.

At 10:35 p.m. Tanner received a complaint about a dog having been left in a vehicle on Willow Street. He attempted to locate the owner but was unable to do so. When he checked back later the vehicle was gone.

Sunday at 2:10 a.m. Tanner found several patrons at Sheetz yelling at each other and causing a disturbance. He instructed the patrons to leave, and that seemed to end the disturbance.

At 4:05 a.m. Tanner conducted traffic control until arrival of fire police where a tractor-trailer had become disabled with a broken axle on Route 155 North.

At 5:34 a.m. Tanner found a Mill Street building unsecured. The key holder arrived and secured the premises.

At 10:16 a.m. Officer Jason Crants received a request to do periodic checks on a property while the owner is away.

At 4:57 p.m. Tanner unlocked a motor vehicle at the old Sheetz building.

At 6:09 p.m. Tanner went to an East Mill Street residence where a hit-and-run had been reported. A visitor of a neighbor had struck the vehicle without realizing it, while backing out. The visitor was contacted, and returned and provided insurance information.

At 9 p.m. Tanner received a report from a Sheetz patron of having lost a wallet, which was later returned minus money and Social Security card. The owner had placed the wallet on top of the car and then driven away. Tanner’s advice was to call Social Security, and to monitor credit reports and accounts for suspicious activity.