UPDATED: Police Beat - 2/14

Police arrest car burglar: Bridgeville police are hoping the arrest of a woman accused of numerous car burglaries in South Fayette will bring an end to their rash of smash and grab thefts. Bridgeville police Chief Chad King said that South Fayette arrested a woman earlier this month and found a window-popping device that may have been used in t. King said the woman, whom he did not identify, is not admitting to the Bridgeville thefts, but he noted the break-ins have stopped since she was arrested. South Fayette police could not be reached for comment.

Fake bar fight leads to charges: Bridgeville police say a Crafton man called emergency dispatchers twice within two hours to report multiple fights at Castaway’s. The problem, though, is that there never was a fight, and police said the man, 50-year-old Dan Rusin, was never at the Bridgeville bar. Police said he called at 6 p.m. on Feb. 10 to say there was a “big fight” and he had been punched in the nose. Bridgeville and South Fayette police responded but found nothing. Police said he called back again at 7:40 p.m. with a similar false report. Officers charged him with false alarm to public safety, two counts of false reports to police and three counts of reckless endangerment. Police said Rusin used to be a part-owner of the bar.

Bad checks for Bingo: Erin Varner, 29, of Bridgeville, was charged with passing a bad check after borough police said she wrote a $75 check from a closed account. Police said she wrote the check to the volunteer fire department to play Bingo on Dec. 12.

Purse stolen: Bridgeville police said they charged Abby Christensen, 21, of South Fayette, with theft, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said Christensen stole a customer’s purse in early January while she was working at a Washington Avenue restaurant.

Staggering in traffic: James Cieselski, 54, of Collier, was charged with public drunkenness on Feb. 3 when Bridgeville police said they saw him staggering in traffic on Route 50 near Prestley Road.

Public drunkenness charge: Bridgeville police charged 38-year-old borough resident Justin Walker with public drunkenness after officers said they responded to a problem at 609 Washington Ave. on Jan. 29.

DUI charge: Jessica Hensley, 31, of Wayne, NJ, was charged with drunken driving and careless driving after Bridgeville police said they stopped her car along Washington Avenue on Feb. 2

DUI charge: William Julin, 66, of Peters Township, was charged with drunken driving on Feb. 6 after Collier police said they stopped him for driving erratically on Route 50 near Thoms Run Road.

Drug charge: Heidelberg police charged Amanda R. Grosse, 31, of Pittsburgh, for public drunkenness and possession of a controlled substance after officers found her passed out in the Walgreen’s parking lot on Feb. 13. Police said they found her with 43 white pills that they suspect were prescribed pain medication.

Burglary attempt: A burglar alarm at the Benihana restaurant in Scott Township prompted officers to respond in the early hours of Feb. 11. Police said they arrived at the scene and found a ladder propped up against the building, indicating a botched burglary attempt. No one was at the scene and they apparently never made it inside the restaurant.

Harassment charge: Alex C. Sinkamba, 45, of Scott, was charged with harassment, stalking and filing a false police report after township police said he was harassing another person after being told to stop. Police said they arrested him and took him to the Allegheny County Jail for arraignment.

Banking fraud: Scott police charged Heather Habovick, 41, with fraud, identity theft and access device fraud after officers said she used her ex-husbands information to open various accounts.

Criminal mischief arrest: David Kiczer, 47, of Scott was charged with criminal mischief after township police said he broke a door in the 500 block of Carothers Avenue on Feb. 12.

DUI arrest: Clint T. Newbould, 28, of Rochester, NY, was charged with drunken driving on Feb. 10 after Scott police said they stopped his car on Greentree Road.

Drunken driving charge: Stephanie Schmidt, 21, of Pittsburgh, will be charged with drunken driving after Scott police said they stopped her car along Greentree Road on Feb. 9.

Public drunkenness arrest: Michael Noakes, 49, of Scott, was charged with public drunkenness on Feb. 10 when officers said they found him very intoxicated on Washington Avenue.

Federal case pleader: A New York City man pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to traffic counterfeit credit cards after authorities said he used them in March 2010 to make $28,000 worth of purchases from Walmarts and Giant Eagles in Greensburg, Latrobe and Scott Township. Richard G. Foster, Jr., 24, of Brooklyn, NY, pleaded guilty to the charge on Feb. 9 and will be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Maurice B. Cohill Jr. on May 10. He could face a prison sentence of five years and a $250,000 fine. Scott police assisted the U.S. Secret Service in the investigation.

Allegheny County

Police chase sentencing: A Bridgeville man was sentenced to prison for leading police on a 16-mile chase around Allegheny County while driving on a suspended license in September 2009. The Allegheny County district attorney’s office announced that 49-year-old Nino Petrocelli Jr. will serve 30 to 60 months in prison and an additional 90 days for driving without a license. Petrocelli was convicted last year on charges stemming from a lengthy police chase after officers noticed he did not have a license plate on his delivery truck. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Randal Todd sentenced him on Feb. 9.

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