Police Beat

STEUBENVILLE POLICE

Smashing melons: Police on patrol spotted Franciscan students in Belleview Park Sunday “smashing watermelons.” It was after midnight and one of them told police they were “cleaning up the mess and then going to leave.” Police told them the park closes at dusk.

Busy day: A man was allegedly “causing problems” for customers at a downtown business Sunday, approaching them “and mumbling” and shoving a cigarette lighter at them. Police told him to stay away from the business and stop bothering people, but several hours later they found him in the 100 block of N. 4th Street “harassing everyone in the courtyard.” Bystanders claimed he “poured soda on a dog … then began flicking a lighter at (people).” Police said he saw them speaking with staff members and left the area, but they caught up with him in the 200 block of N. 4th Street and reported he was “harassing (someone) doing a crossword puzzle.” He was advised to head home and warned that if they got another call, he would be arrested. About 40 minutes later, callers claimed he was back at the downtown business where he started the day, allegedly “scaring customers (by) the way he ran up on them.” Police reported witnessing “three people running away from” him and jumping into a vehicle. Police said Jonathan Pullie, 51, 702 North Street (rear), Steubenville, was booked into the county jail on an eight-hour intoxication hold. He also was charged with disorderly conduct.

Attention getter: Someone reported seeing a woman “crawling underneath the rear deck” of a vacant residence Sunday in the 1200 block of Oak Grove Avenue. Police located the woman “as she was entering a fenced-in backyard” not far away. She said she was on the property but denied being under the deck. She was told not to return. While speaking with her, police took the woman, identified as Bridget E. Burke, 43, 1333 Arlington Ave., Steubenville, into custody on a warrant for failure to appear.

Charged: Employees at Walmart alleged a woman failed to scan items in her cart Sunday valued at just over $154. Police said Shakayla Jane Wilson-Faust, 35, 310 N. 4th St., Toronto, was charged with theft.

Reported: A caller reported hearing a shot fired Sunday in the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. Police checked the area but didn’t find anything amiss. Bystanders said a vehicle had backfired just before police arrived.

Nothing there: Someone reported a homeless encampment and potential drug activity in the 400 block of Madison Avenue Sunday. Police checked the area but didn’t find anyone.

Crying wolf: A Market Street resident claimed he was being harassed in the 100 block of N. 5th Street Sunday, but once at the scene police determined he “made the story up.” He was advised to stop making bogus complaints.

Host headache: A resident in the 700 block of Brady Avenue Saturday was warned to keep his party and guests quiet. Police said they could hear the music from the street and, as they spoke with the homeowner, “people could be heard being loud inside the residence.” He was advised to “clean up the alcoholic beverages (left) in the yard and send his guests on their way.” He was told that if they had to return, he would be cited.

Cited: Marcos Gonzalez, 18, 1360 Barone Dr., Weirton, display of plates.

JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF

Adulting needed: A Rayland man who had been arguing with his girlfriend said he was concerned things were getting out of hand Sunday. He said she was supposed to take their daughter fishing but now she didn’t want to, and he just wanted her to leave. Deputies said she lives there and would have to be evicted. She said he had been calling her names and “wasn’t stop screaming at her and cussing at her to get out of the house.” Deputies told them they couldn’t stand there and referee their fights and “they both need to be adults about this.”

Washed up: Brooke County authorities told deputies an urn with a name washed up on the riverbank in Wellsburg. Deputies located a woman who assured them the decedent’s ashes had been buried with family and “she didn’t know what to do with the urn so she … tossed it into (a) creek.”

Busted up: A Mingo Junction woman said her estranged husband was “throwing things and busting things in the house” and had scared their kids Sunday. He had left but returned after deputies arrived, and both said it never escalated to a physical altercation, and they felt safe staying there.