Steubenville Police

Up to no good: Someone reported someone camping out in the area of South and Water streets “with visible smoke coming from the wood line,” Tuesday. Police said thick, black smoke was coming from the area and as they approached the source, they found “blankets, a tent and a pile of burning copper wire.” No one was there and police extinguished the fire, which they said appears to have been used to burn the coating off so they could take the wire to the scrapyard.

One cited, one charged: A woman was cited for having no operator’s license, but her passenger ended up in custody after a traffic stop on Sunset Boulevard at Brady Circle, Tuesday. Police said the driver, Mary Peters, 48, 908 Pittsburgh St., Steubenville, was only able to produce a West Virginia I.D. card, while her male companion, Michael Clark, 46, 608 N. Sixth St., Steubenville, was charged with possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police allegedly found crumbs of a substance believed to be crack cocaine on the passenger seat, as well as “a white rock and chor boy,” a handful of glass pipes with residue in his pocket along with two push rods and a container containing more white rocks believed to be crack.

Tandem operation: Employees at Shoe Department Encore told police a woman seemed to be running interference so another woman with long braids could get out of the store with an $85 pair of Nikes she hadn’t paid for, Wednesday. Employees said the woman with the braids was carrying a bag that appeared the missing Nike’s were inside and when they told her to put the shoes back, she “began to argue before fleeing the store in an older, royal blue Hyundai Elantra. They said they also found an empty Nike shoe box in the store.

Blocking traffic: Police had to return to North Fourth Street after they got more calls about someone putting their own street sign in the roadway, Wednesday. Police had been called to the location over the weekend because a “Children at Play, Speed Limit 5 mph” sign was in the roadway. On that occasion police moved the sign to the sidewalk but were unable to speak with the person who put it in the street. This time, the owner was there and was told that her sign was impeding traffic and she would need to contact city officials about putting up approved signs.

Cause and effect: A woman in the 800 block of Rosswell Avenue complained a juvenile “threw a ball at her window,” Wednesday. Police spoke with some kids who said a juvenile had thrown the ball at the window “because a juvenile inside the house was flipping them off” and the woman herself has been “calling them derogatory names” and said it’s been going on since she moved in. The kids were advised not to retaliate and that, if it continues, to advise their parents so they can file a police report.

Noise maker: A caller complained of a loud radio in the 800 block of Oakmont, Thursday. Police said when they arrived the confirmed it was “extremely loud.” They were unable to get anyone in the house to come to the door but a woman who identified herself as the homeowner approached them and said her kids were inside. She was advised to keep the volume down.

Unhappy: Someone flagged police down in the 1500 block of Sunset Boulevard about a couple who share a residence arguing, Tuesday. Police told them both to pursue a court order if they wanted the other party to be evicted. The couple “agreed to terms with each other and returned home,” police said.

No sign: A caller reported someone camping out on Logan Avenue at Commercial, Wednesday. Police checked the area, but no one was there nor did they find evidence someone had been camping on the property.

Bad shape: Police were asked to check conditions at a Harvard Avenue residence, Wednesday. There were four cats, a dog, two rabbits and a bird living in what police described as “deplorable conditions” and said the house didn’t seem livable for people or humans. The animal control officer, humane society and building inspector were to be notified.