Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Michael Derrow, Jr. was found to be in possession of cocaine and more than $250,000 cash, officials said late Wednesday.
District Attorney Eugene A. Vittone announced Wednesday evening that the Pennsylvania State Police—in cooperation with detectives of the Washington County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and Southwest Regional Police Department—conducted a search that yielded cocaine and more than $250 in cash. Authorities executed a search warrant at 603 Main Street in Bentleyville. The warrant also included Michael Derrow Jr., 33, of Bentleyville. Discovered inside of Derrow’s apartment were numerous firearms and cash. "Cocaine was discovered on Mr. Derrow’s person," Vittone said in a release. Derrow is on probation for felony drug charges from Allegeheny County and was apprehended inside a tavern. Derrow as a…
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone released the following information.
More than $300 in cash and 287 stamp bags of heroin were seized during a search of a City of Washington home on Tuesday. Washington County District Attorney Eugene A. Vittone announced Tuesday that that the Washington County District Attorney's Drug Task Force, City of Washington Police and state police in Washington executed a search warrant at 518 East Maiden St. The search warrant was a result of a cooperative investigation and focused on the heroin and crack cocaine trafficking of Wayne Murphy, 20, and Matthew Leavens, 20, both of Pittsburgh. The search warrant resulted in the seizure of 287 baggies of heroin and $322 in cash and drug paraphernalia. Murphy will be charged with delivery of heroin, possession with intent to distribute …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The news was announced Thursday afternoon.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Gaming Task Force and members of the Charleroi Police Department on Thursday executed a raid on two bars in that community—Myford Hotel and the M & D Bar and Grill—for possession and use of illegal gaming devices. The devices at the center of the investigation are typical video slot machines, the district attorney's office indicated in a release. In all, the agents seized seven machines and over $2,100. District Attorney Eugene Vittone lauded the raids, saying they are "an important first step in combating illegal gambling within the county, and in addressing problem bars which have become a haven for other illegal activity." Vittone also thanked the efforts of the Gaming Task Force and the …
Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said there was not enough evidence to substantiate the charges.
Charges won't be filed against a McMurray man involved in a crash that killed a Canonsburg teenager in 2010, Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone confirmed Wednesday. Thomas B. McNary crashed his sport utility vehicle into a car July 17, 2010, in the area of West McMurray Road and state Route 19. The crash caused a chain-reaction collision injuring several people and killing 18-year-old Adah Porter, the Observer-Reporter indicated. "The evidence which we gathered which includes many interviews and medical records does not support the filing of criminal charges," Vittone said. "From what we have it appears that this tragic accident several years ago was the result of McNary's diabetic condition."
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Washington County District Attorney Eugene Vittone thanked Gov. Tom Corbett recently for signing several pieces of legislation into law—ones he said will help law enforcement efforts, especially those regarding drugs.
Washington County District Attorney Eugene A. Vittone thanked Gov. Tom Corbett recently for signing several bills into law that he said will help local law enforcement catch up with technology and criminals. “As district attorney of Washington County, keeping the law current and reflective of modern day realities is essential to public safety. These new laws will help ensure fairness and balance in the criminal justice system by keeping up with technology, criminals and remaining ever vigilant in protecting the rights of victims," Vittone said. He continued: "I am particularly thankful to see passage of a statute which provides for criminal responsibility for individuals who deal or provide a dangerous drug to someone who then dies from …
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
“We are not going to tolerate or allow this type of illegal activity to occur in Washington County,” the district attorney said.
Washington County District Attorney Eugene A. Vittone II announced Wednesday that the investigation continues into alleged cock fighting following a search of a Daisytown farm. While executing a search warrant there, state police in Washington retrieved 127 birds along with a large amount of cock-fighting materials that investigators believe may be related to an to an alleged cock-fighting operation in southwestern Pennsylvania. “Police report that the birds were kept within a ‘rooster yard’ in individual housing units and those units were manufactured using pickle barrels and/or 3-foot high white canvas teepees," Vittone said. "Many birds were tethered to their barrel or teepee, which is the typical practice in the cockfighting industry…
Officials are in the process of seizing 127 gaming birds, according to a spokesman with the Washington County District Attorney's Office.
State police in Washington are in the process of serving a search warrant at a location in Daisytown where officials suspect a cock-fighting ring was operating. Assistant District Attorney Joe Zupancic said Wednesday afternoon that officials also found an alleged breeding operation going on at the undisclosed location, as well. "It's ending up being bigger than we thought it would be," he said. Zupancic said that state police and District Attorney Gene Vittone would be releasing further information—and confirmed that 127 gaming birds were being seized by humane officials. Aside from members of the state police and district attorney's office, the Humane Society of the United States and the Washington County Animal Response Team also …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
A Canonsburg store was one of a dozen raided Wednesday.
Members of the District Attorney's Drug Task Force and Pennsylvania State Police executed a dozen search warrants Wednesday morning on local businesses as efforts continue to eliminate synthetic marijuana products and other drugs from the community. One of them was at the Cricket store on West Pike Street in Canonsburg. The search warrants were granted following controlled buys from various retail locations in recent months by state police troopers and undercover detectives from the task force. Agents have seen a rise in the use of synthetic marijuana, K2 and bath salts, as well as the undesirable side effects that accompany them, Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said in a release Wednesday. Users of certain synthetic …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Vincent LoCastro, former owner of All Pro Auto Mall in Canonsburg, three family members and a former employee are charged.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Thursday, May 10, 2012
Racketeering and theft charges have been filed against Vincent LoCastro, the former owner and operator of All Pro Auto Mall in Canonsburg and three of his family members. The charges were announced today (Thursday) by Washington County District Attorney Eugene A. Vittone and the Pennsylvania State Police. LoCastro, 57, of 203 Spartan Dr., Bethel Park, was charged with two counts of corrupt organizations, two counts of criminal conspiracy, 18 counts of theft by unlawful taking and 18 counts of defrauding secured creditors. If convicted on all charges, LoCastro could face up to 206 years in prison. Also charged with LoCastro were: The allegations set forth in Thursday’s filing of criminal charges are based on documents filed before …
Friday, April 27, 2012
District Attorney Gene Vittone commends Peters police Chief Harry Fruecht for introducing Drug Take Back Day to the county in 2010. The event is happening Saturday.
On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., many Washington County police departments in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will give the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. You can bring medications to the sites in Peters Township listed below. The service is free and anonymous. Last October, Americans turned in 377,080 pounds—188.5 tons—of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and approximately 4,000 state and local law enforcement partners. The Peters Township Police Department collected approximately 259 pounds of prescription drugs last fall and 235 pounds last spring. In the three …
Brenda
5:13 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
I have to agree - low blood glucose levels causes many things, but going into reverse -taking off again and then set off on foot to escape! Too many purposeful and intentional movements to blame on glucose levels. He should have been charged. more ›