Steubenville Police

Flamed out: A city resident is facing multiple charges after he allegedly threatened his neighbors in the 1200 block of Lincoln Boulevard and doused one of their homes in gasoline, Saturday. Police said when they arrived, they found a “large group of people” outside who said a man “was currently in the woods and had just poured gasoline on one of their homes.” They reported they’d had to respond to multiple calls in that block several times earlier in their shift, with neighbors reporting he’d said he was “tired of his neighbors because they were drug dealers” and was standing “in the middle of the roadway threatening them, stating that he would shoot them and also beat them.” An officer caught up to the man, who smelled of gasoline, trying to sneak in his back door and the two of them struggled until a third officer joined the fray, though they said he continued to resist “for a long period of time.” Police said Stanley Minch, 59, 1246 Lincoln Ave., was charged with attempted arson, aggravated menacing, assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and obstructing official business.

No one’s laughing: Police were told a woman or women who prefer small silver Chevy’s has been driving recklessly on the Franciscan University of Steubenville campus in recent weeks, veering onto sidewalks and attempting to “run over students.” On Thursday, campus security said they’ve had “ongoing issues” with a small Chevy, believed to be a Spark, believed to be operated by woman and “loaded down” with passengers, including a hit-and-run accident and another incident in which an RA from one of the dorms tried to stop the vehicle, “which allegedly attempted to run him over.” On Monday, security told police a silver Chevy Sonic had been “intentionally driving on the sidewalks next to the cafeteria at a high rate of speed, multiple times,” and at one point “narrowly missed striking a group of runners.” A security officer attempted to stop the car, but the driver “drove around the officer and left the campus.” Witnesses reported seeing a woman at the wheel, another woman in the passenger seat and a male in the back seat of the car. Police have the license plate number for the Sonic and temporary registration for the other car.

Two vehicles destroyed: A driver was cited after she allegedly lost control of her car on Woodland Road at Oregon Avenue and crashed into a parked vehicle, Sunday. Police said Jocelyn M. Boyuk, 18, 312 South Bend Boulevard, Steubenville, was cited for failure to maintain control after she admitted she “periodically has issues with the steering, which makes it difficult to control the car” and said she was unable to steer the vehicle, causing her to strike the parked vehicle. Police said the passenger side front of the parked car was “completely destroyed” and the passenger side front wheel “was barely attached to the vehicle.” The passenger side front tire of Boyuk’s vehicle “had been completely ripped off … and the entire front portion of the car had been smashed,” they reported.

In denial: A man overdosed in his stepfather’s truck, Sunday. His stepfather said they were driving on North Seventh Street when he noticed his stepson “briefly bent over in the front seat” but he didn’t see what he was doing. He said the younger male then “leaned back in his seat and a short time later was bent over, unresponsive” so he pulled over to call 9-1-1. The driver said he knew of the other man’s drug issues but thought he was clean. Two women he didn’t know were in the back of the truck and fled when he pulled over. Police found a needle on the floorboard of the passenger seat in plain view as well as shoestrings “that appeared to have been used as a tourniquet” and several used ‘stamp’ bags. The younger man was given a drug treatment form.

Perceptions: A woman in the 400 block of South Fourth Street took exception to a group of women parked near her residence who “she stated were drug addicts,” Monday. She said she told them they “need to park down the street somewhere and … (they) refused.” A man who lives behind her said one of the women in the car is his girlfriend “and that is why they were parked in front of the apartment building.” Police said the two tenants “began yelling at each other” while they were there, and they had to separate them.

You leave it, they’ll steal it: A woman who left her vehicle parked in the lot behind the Tower building on Market Street while she was away on business overnight said she had mechanical trouble when she picked it up and found out someone tried to steal her catalytic converter.

Pedals away: A man who collapsed at Family Dollar was uncooperative with city firefighters and told police it was only because he had been up for 17 hours, Sunday. When they helped him to his feet he told them “he was dizzy” and began to fall, so they caught him and set him on the ground. He again denied medical assistance and eventually stood up to leave the store. Police said he was stable on his feet and didn’t appear to be intoxicated, and had no problem riding away on his bicycle.

Get along: A woman told police she went to a home in the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue to pick up her child and two other relatives when a man known to her “started to argue with her,” Monday. She said he then walked off her porch and up to her vehicle “and pointed a handgun at her.”

Drafty: A resident in the 500 block of Union Avenue said a man walking in the area had exposed himself, Sunday. Police said they spoke with a male who was in the area.

Talking points: A city resident told police two people known to him are “spreading rumors about him and threatening to file false police reports,” Monday.

Trashed: A man who left his truck parked in a Lawson Avenue lot while he went out of town said he returned months later to find the tires had been slashed windows shattered, the license plate and items inside the vehicle missing, Monday.

Move it or lose it: A caller complained that a trailer was parked in the 1100 block of Ridge Avenue, Sunday. Police told the owner it couldn’t be parked on the street unless it’s being loaded or unloaded and he would have to move it, but several hours later they got another call that the trailer was still on the street. They spoke with the owner again and this time waited until he moved it.

Hungry woman: Employees at Wal-Mart said a woman who stuffed “several packages of strip steaks in a black purse and tried to leave the store, Monday. When she was confronted, they said the woman dropped the bag and jumped in the back seat of a silver or gray SUV. They said the steaks she had stolen were valued at $215.

Fraud: A city resident said she found two fraudulent charges on her bank account, Monday. The charges totaled just under $32, but she had to cancel her debit card. She told police she thinks a subject known to her may have taken a picture of her debit card and used it.

Bothered: A domestic disturbance was reported by an individual in the 3800 block of Bristol Avenue, Monday. Police said they located the two people involved who both said they’d been arguing and it never escalated. Police said there were no signs of violence and the male said he “would leave the residence to resolve the issue.”

Booked: Jennifer A. Adams, no age listed, 124 Main St. Dillonvale, petit theft, Monday. Police said employees at Wal-Mart claim Adams failed to scan $49 worth of merchandise, and while they were taking her into custody discovered she had an outstanding arrest warrant.

Booked: Marissa Payne, 29,180 N. Fourth St., Steubenville, probation violation and possession of drugs, Saturday. Police spotted Payne walking in the 100 block of North Fourth Street and said when they went to take her into custody she allegedly “began attempting to hand items off” to a male companion but they stopped her and found a small glass vial in a coin purse containing a white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine.

Code issue: Notice of violation was sent to the owner of a property at 615 Ross St., litter and trash on porch, side and rear of residence.

Cited: Sheldon Purdy II, no age or address listed, expired registration; Joseph C. Valentine, 25, Opperman Drive, one-way street violation; Charles Taylor, 64, 1589 Washington Pike, Wellsburg, expired/unlawful plates; Deidre M. Thomas, 34, Aliquippa, Pa., driving under suspension.