FRENCHCREEK TWP., Pa. (EYT) — Police are investigating a hit-and-run that took place on March 4 around 7:45 p.m.
According to Franklin-based State Police, an unknown actor backed into a residence at 1255 Mercer Road in Franklin, and fled undetected, in an unknown direction.
The impact caused the interior wall to be pushed in and the drywall to break, along with a small hole in the siding, police say.
Anyone with information is asked to contact PSP Franklin at 814-676-6596.
FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – A Franklin man accused of fleeing the scene of an alcohol-related accident and leaving a seriously injured passenger along the side of the road in early January is facing a preliminary hearing tomorrow.
On January 12, Travis J. Shingledecker, 32, of Franklin, was driving a 2001 Audi north on SR 965 when the vehicle left the roadway and traveled onto an embankment.
It continued down the embankment, going airborne, and began to flip “tail to nose,” according to police.
Shingledecker’s passenger, Joseph Denny, of Evans City, was was found lying along the guide rail after being ejected from the vehicle, while Shingledecker fled the scene, aided by two females, police say.
Denny was flown to Saint Elizabeth Hospital for treatment of severe injuries. There is no word on his current condition.
Shingledecker faces the fo llowing charges:
- Aggravated Assault By Vehicle While DUI, Felony 2
- Accident/Serious Bodily Injury, Felony 3
- DUI: Gen Imp/Inc of Driving Safely – 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
- DUI: High Rate of Alcohol (Bac. 10 – .16) 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
- Failure To Notify Police Of Accident – Injury Or Death, Summary offense
- 2 counts of Failure to Stop And Give Information, Render Aid, Summary offense
- Careless Driving, Summary offense
- Driving at Safe Speed, Summary offense
- Disregard Traffic Lane (Single), summary offense
- Failure to use safety belt – driver and front seat occupant, Summary offense
- Registration Card Not Signed, Summary offense
Shingledecker was later found at his home under the influence of alcohol and subsequently arrested, according to police.
His hearing will be held at 8:30 a.m., on March 12, at Venango County Central Court, in front of District Judge Dinberg.
A preliminary arraignment was held on March 5.
SUGARCREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) - Emergency crews responded to a one-vehicle crash on Sugarcreek Drive around 9:10 p.m. on Tuesday.
Sugarcreek Borough Police say 44-year-old Heidi Hummel, of Franklin, was traveling east on Sugarcreek Drive near its intersection with Canal Drive when she drove off the roadway for unknown reasons.
Police say Hummel’s 1995 Chevrolet pickup truck struck a telephone pole guide wire and traveled over an embankment before coming to a rest on its driver’s side.
The roof of her truck had to be cut off to extract her from the vehicle.
Police did not indicate whether Hummel was injured.
Rocky Grove Volunteer Fire Department and Community Ambulance Service assisted at the scene.
Hummel’s vehicle was towed from the scene by Sugarcreek Towing.
The crash remains under investigation.
BARKEYVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – Franklin-based State Police say two Clintonville men were arrested for public drunkenness at T-A parking lot, in Barkeyville borough, Venango County.
According to police, 28-year-old Sheldon Gibbs and 35-year-old Jeffrey Nemet, both of Clintonville, were allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the above location and causing a disturbance.
Charges were filed at District Judge Lowrey’s office.
No other information was provided.
BARKEYVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – Franklin-based State Police say around 11:40 a.m. on March 5, a stolen truck was recovered at Burger King, at 5753 State Route 8 Harrisville, Barkeyville Borough, Venango County.
According to police, on February 22, 2014, an unknown perpetrator stole a Warren, MI, man’s truck from a location within the city of Pittsburgh.
Police say the truck was recovered on March 5 at the above described location.
The above report was released to exploreVenango.com on March 12, 2014.
SANDYCREEK TOWNSHIP, Pa. (EYT) – According to Franklin-based State Police, around 7:50 a.m. on March 11, a two-vehicle accident occurred on Pittsburgh Road (State Route 8), at its intersection with Pone Lane, in Sandycreek Township, Venango County.
Police say a 17-year-old female, of Franklin, and 27-year-old Catherine A. Campbell, of Butler, were involved in the collision.
According to police, the teen was traveling south on SR 8 in a 2004 Ford Taurus and attempted to make a left turn onto Pone Lane.
The car was struck by a 2013 Honda CRV driven by Campbell who was traveling north on SR 8.
The Taurus came to rest in the intersection of SR 8 and Pone Lane, and the Honda CRV came to rest approximately 125 feet north of the intersection of SR 8 and Pone Lane in the east berm.
The teen and a 15-year-old female passenger, also of Franklin, were using seat belts.
The 17-year-old was not injured; the 15-year-old suffered injuries of unknown severity. Community Ambulance transported her to UPMC Northwest.
Campbell was also using her seat belt and suffered minor injuries.
The teen was cited with a traffic violation.
FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – Franklin Police say around 6:15 p.m. on March 10, a Franklin woman was arrested for allegedly attempting to obtain medication by fraudulent means at Rite Aid, in Franklin, Venango County.
Kelly Nalepa, of Franklin, was arrested at Rite Aid after employees notified Franklin Police that she was allegedly attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraudulent means, police say.
According to police, Nalepa obtained the medication and was taken into custody upon leaving the store.
She was charged with one felony count of Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation.
She was arraigned before Judge Lowrey and was released on $10,000.00 unsecured bond.
FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – On Tuesday, March 11, City of Franklin Police Department received numerous reports of suspected fraudulent checks being delivered to random individuals both at residential and businesses throughout the city.
These checks are associated with fraudulent activities being conducted by persons using legitimate companies’ names as fronts.
City of Franklin Police caution anyone receiving any type of communication involving business transactions and checks to verify the information prior to attempting to cash any checks. This is a fraud or a scam being conducted.
These incidents are currently under investigation by Franklin Police with some leads established.
SANDYCREEK TWP., Pa. (EYT) — A Franklin woman is being charged with harassment following a March 10 domestic dispute on Goodwill Road, in Sandycreek Township, Venango County.
According to Franklin-based State Police, around 8:56 p.m. on March 10, a known Franklin female allegedly struck the victim above the right eye. The victim is a known Franklin male.
No further information has been provided.
FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – According to Sugarcreek Police Department, around 5:45 p.m. on March 12, a one-vehicle accident occurred on Front Street, in Franklin, Venango County.
Police say 42-year-old Crystal Fuller, of Oil City, was traveling west on Front Street as she came up the hill losing control on the icy roadway clipping a telephone pole.
After striking the telephone pole, she then struck a parked car in the driveway along with the front porch of 310 Front Street, police say.
No other information was provided.
The investigation is ongoing.
Rocky Grove Fire Department, Community Ambulance Service, and Lowry Auto Towing assisted at the scene.
CANAL TWP., Pa. (EYT) — Franklin-based State Police are investigating a theft from a residence in Utica, in Canal Township, Venango County.
An unknown perpetrator(s) broke into a residence owned by a 71-year-old Utica woman sometime between October 1, 2013, and March 7th, 2014.
Police say the perpetrator(s) stole coins, including a Chinese Panda coin in pendant holder, a French Rooster gold coin in pendant holder, a American Double Eagle gold coin in pendant holder, and three Eisenhower one ounce silver dollars.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact PSP Franklin at 814-676-6596.
The above report was released to exploreVenango.com on March 12, 2014.
OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — Oil City Police were dispatched to West Front Street, Oil City, for an incident of public drunkenness on March 9 around 3:56 a.m.
When police arrived at the scene, they found April Marie Camacho allegedly drunk in public.
Upon arresting Camacho, they also allegedly found her to be in possession of marijuana.
Camacho was arrested and taken into custody.
No other information was provided.
TIDIOUTE, Pa. (EYT) – Warren State Police say a 39-year-old man was arrested following a domestic assault that occurred at Fagundus Lane, in Tidioute, Warren County.
Around 9:00 p.m. on March 10, Warren Police were dispatched to Fagundus Lane for a domestic dispute.
Upon arrival, the couple were previously involved into a verbal altercation which turned physical when the female began hitting the male. The male then grabbed the woman by the neck pinning her against the wall. The physical altercation continued, causing the female several red abrasions on the right side of her neck and a small laceration to her bottom lip.
The male was taken into custody and arraigned in front of District Court for charges of Simple Assault and Harassment.
He was released on a $25,000.00 bail and ordered to have no contact with the woman.
Charges are pending on the woman for Harassment.
No other information has been provided.
BROKENSTRAW TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Sources say a 26-year-old man was killed yesterday when an explosion took place at an oil holding tank located on Irvine Run Road, in Brokenstraw Township, Warren County.
According to Warren State Police, between 8:30 a.m. and 10:08 a.m. on March 12, 26-year-old Nikolai G. Briggs, of Clarendon, was discovered approximately sixty feet north of the tank he was working on. The victim was welding on the top of the tank when his torch caused vapor in the tank to ignite and explode.
He was pronounced deceased at the scene as a result of multiple injuries cause by the blast and fall, according to police.
Deputy Coroner Taydus and Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene.
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (EYT) – Two people have been arrested after allegedly attempting to steal over $175.00 of merchandise from WalMart in Cranberry, Cranberry Township, Venango County.
According to Franklin-based State Police, David W. Young, 23, of Franklin, and Amber J. Williams, 22, of Franklin, entered the Wal-Mart and were caught by employees.
Both were charged with one summary count of Retail Theft, police say.
Upon further investigation, it was found that Young had a warrant out for his arrest from the Venango County Sheriff’s Office and was placed in Venango County prison, according to police.
TIONESTA TOWNSHIP, Pa. (EYT) – Marienville-based State Police say around 11:33 a.m. on March 13, two people were seriously injured in a one-car crash on German Hill Road, 1.6 miles from State Route 36, in Tionesta Township, Forest County.
According to police, 23-year-old Jamie A. Burt, of Tionesta, was traveling on German Hill Road and lost control of her 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt when it hit an ice and slush patch on the roadway.
The vehicle went off the north side of the roadway and struck a tree head on, police say.
Burt and her passenger, 28-year-old Clayton R. Beach, also of Tionesta, suffered major injuries and were transported to Hamot Hospital.
They were not using seat belts.
Tionesta Ambulance assisted at the scene.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (EYT) – According to Marienville-based State Police, around 12:01 a.m. on March 13, a one-car accident occurred on State Route 208, 131 feet north of Putnam Drive, in Washington Township, Clarion County.
Police say 24-year-old Sarah A. Lewis, of Emlenton, was traveling westbound on SR 208 during ice and snow-covered road conditions, and her 2003 Pontiac Grand Am crossed an ice patch which caused her to lose control of it.
The car crossed the roadway and struck a utility pole off the opposing lane with the front portion of the vehicle, according to police.
The vehicle came to a final rest at the point of impact, police say.
Lewis was using a seat belt and was not injured.
The Pontiac sustained disabling damages.
FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – Franklin Police are investigating a burglary that occurred on Elk Street, in Franklin, Venango County.
According to police, on March 13, the homeowners at the above location discovered that an unknown perpetrator(s) forcibly entered their residence. The burglary occurred sometime between February, 2014, and March 13, 2014.
Police say the following items were stolen from the residence:
- 20 gauge Mossberg “Persuader” shotgun
- .45/.410 Caliber Taurus “Judge” revolver
- a full serving set of sterling silver dinnerware
- additional silver cups, plates, bowls, utensils
- gold coins
- miscellaneous gold and silver jewelry
- over $5,000.00 in cash and travelers’ checks
Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. Heil at Franklin Police Department at 814-437-1644.
SUGARCREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – Franklin-based State Police say around 1:58 a.m. on March 16, a Polk man was arrested for suspected DUI.
According to police, Frank Matthew Ditzenberger, of Polk, was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol in the area of State Route 322, in Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County.
No other information was provided.
WARREN, Pa. (EYT) – Warren-based State Police say additional charges have been filed against a victim’s probation officer in Warren.
According to police, 37-year-old Jeffrey F. Collins, of Sheffield, has been charged with an additional incident of indecent assault and official oppression.
Police say sometime between the dates of December 18, 2013, and March 6, 2014, an alleged incident of indecent assault occurred at the Warren County Courthouse, in Warren.
Collins was the victim’s probation officer through the Warren County Adult Probation office.
Police say Collins was allegedly sending unwanted lewd text messages to the victim, a 50-year-old Warren female.
He also allegedly grabbed the victim’s breasts and buttock area while in meetings at the Adult Probation office.
This incident was uncovered while investigating a previous incident involving the Collins and a different female he was supervising on probation.
Charges of Indecent Assault (2 counts); Harassment (2 counts); and Official Oppression will be filed at District Justice Carlson’s office in Warren.