Steubenville Police

Road rage reported: A motorist allegedly involved in what was described as a road rage incident on Sunset Boulevard near the midtown Speedway “where one of the drivers brandished a firearm” was taken into custody Sunday. Police said Jovionte D.E. Howes, 27, 1805 N. 9th St., Apt. D, Martins Ferry, was charged with aggravated menacing after the other driver told them he’d “pulled a handgun out, pointed it at her and pulled the slide back.” Howes denied having a handgun but said there was a BB gun under the seat, claiming the other driver, a female, “tried to run him off the road…and kept honking her horn” and a passenger in Howes’ car seconded his account, police said. The female driver said Howes had been in the turning lane at Sunset at Lovers Lane but when the light turned green “did not turn but continued straight onto Sunset,” forcing her to swerve to miss him.

Pumped: A caller said someone was “laying near the pumps” at Circle K on Lincoln Avenue was possibly intoxicated, but city firefighters informed police they’d revived the individual with Narcan Sunday. An employee said the woman had come to the store “with two males who stayed in the car” and after she left the store and walked toward the car, “(they) left the area without her.”

Out of hand: Residents in the 100 block of Laila Court were arguing with construction workers over “property lines (and) possible trespassing” and someone even “threatened to retrieve a gun,” though all involved said it was “never brandished or seen” Friday. The crew “was attempting to make a sewer line repair from Walgreen’s to a sewer line” running adjacent to the resident’s property. The city’s wastewater superintendent responded to the location and spoke with all involved.

Charged: An Oregon Avenue man was booked into the county jail on multiple charges after police responding to a disturbance in the 700 block of Market Street reported finding a woman “lying face down in the parking lot” with the man “pulling on (her) arm” Saturday. Police said they stopped the male from leaving the scene on foot and secured a gun they said he’d advised he had in his possession, alleging he had a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person” as well as “slurred speech and…(exhibited) difficulty standing up.” Police said he told them the woman on the ground was his girlfriend and she’d “had too much to drink and he was trying to get her home.” The girlfriend agreed she’d “had too much to drink” but denied being in a physical altercation. A witness told police she was sitting in her car when she saw the girlfriend “leaning on the back of the vehicle” and when he started to pull away, told police she saw the woman fall to the ground. She said the male stopped the car and went back to check on his girlfriend and, concerned that both of them “were too intoxicated to drive,” admitted she grabbed the keys. She alleged the male returned to his vehicle “and pulled a silver revolver.” She said he never pointed the gun but he did “demand his keys back” so she threw them “in his direction.” Police said they charged Laven L. Joe, 36, 1540 Oregon Ave., Steubenville, with using a firearm while intoxicated, carrying a concealed weapon, having a weapon under disability, aggravated menacing and assault.

Charged: A Sherman Avenue resident ended up in police custody after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend Friday. The woman claimed they were in bed when he “began arguing with her and then began striking her” on her head and arm and also choked her, so she hit him back. Before police arrived she said he “began striking himself in the face” and a juvenile who witnessed the altercation told police when the man struck himself in the face he’d “stated that he was going to blame (his girlfriend).” The juvenile also claimed the male “thought there were men in the residence.” Police said the woman had red marks on her face and arm as well as a large bruise on her thigh that she claimed had happened a few days earlier. The male had a lump on the back of his head and scratch marks, but the juvenile said he was the one who scratched him while he was on the couch. She balked at pursuing charges so police charged James A. Roe, 43, 996 Sherman Ave., with domestic violence, then added a retaliation charge during booking, alleging they heard him say he was “going to take that (expletive’s) life when I get out,” followed by instructions that they “(should) ‘tell the prosecutor that,'” which police said they perceived as a threat.

Second thoughts: Employees at a business in the 200 block of N. 3rd Street said a female “became upset over being asked to leave the store” Thursday. They said she “went behind the counter, arguing with the clerk” and said, “I ain’t afraid to go to county,” which the clerk took as a threat. The woman left when police were called.

Left early: A resident in the 900 block of Oxford Boulevard said he “got into an…argument with a member of his wife’s family and wanted them removed” Saturday. The in-law said they’d flown in from their home down south and “were supposed to stay (there) until Monday.” He said they’d argued but there were no fisticuffs although there “were comments made.” The in-laws packed their belongings and police took them to a restaurant “until they could make transportation arrangements” for the trip home.

Two men ended up in custody after police allegedly found them passed out in the middle of the roadway between Texas Roadhouse and Aspen Dental Sunday. Police said Crosby J. Drake, 25, 1122 Riverview Dr., Weirton, was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence, possession of drugs and possession of hypodermic needles, while his passenger, Zachary Davidson, 35, 944 Plutus Ave., Chester, was served with a bench warrant (Toronto County Court) and charged with possession of hypodermic needles. Drake was allegedly slumped over the wheel of the car, which police said was “still running and in drive,” when they arrived at the location and police said when they stirred Davidson he woke up briefly but “was unable to unlock the door.” Police allege Drake was unsteady on his feet and his eyes were dilated, and claim he advised them “he had used methamphetamine about an hour (before)…and there were drugs where (they) located the hypodermic needle.” Police reported finding a plastic bag of a substance believed to be methamphetamine.

In time out: Callers reported hearing “a male yelling and a female crying” in the 400 block of S. 5th Street Sunday. Upon arrival police said the man was “outside on the porch” and the woman was inside. She said the man “was intoxicated and she was crying from tooth pain.” She said there was no physical altercation but she had told him to “sit outside and sober up” and he never left the stoop until he was told to do so. Police told him to “settle down and not disturb” the neighborhood.

Fraud: A Sunset Boulevard resident said someone opened a Verizon account in his name and the account has a nearly $450 unpaid balance Sunday. Police said the account is registered to the man but the address of record is in Philadelphia, and he said he’s never been there.

Vandalized: A city resident complained his Tesla truck was damaged Sunday. He said he’d parked in the St. Peters Church lot around noon and when he returned a little over an hour later his windshield had been broken.

Stop ‘n talk: A caller reported two drivers in the 700 block of N. 7th Street “stopped in the roadway…in a verbal argument while remaining in their vehicles,” but police didn’t locate anyone fitting the description Friday.

Booted: A caller reported an “uninvited male” refusing to leave a property in the 100 block of Kingston Avenue Friday. Police said they advised him he wasn’t wanted “and he left without incident.”

Bed sitter: An individual who went to a bed and breakfast on South 5th to clean it discovered someone had been in the apartment Friday. The cleaner said it was last cleaned March 1 and no one had rented it since, but police learned “someone was living in the basement but had moved out.” No one else was in the building but police said they “located damage upstairs.”

Harassed: A Mingo Junction woman said she was getting gas at Circle K when a man approached her and “(voiced) some type of derogatory comment and made a ‘finger gun’ gesture at her” Friday.

Coins missing: A city resident told police he’s missing old coins worth about $360 that he’d left in the care of a family member. He told police he’d paid the individual $100 to look after his things but when he returned he discovered about half of his collection was gone. Police said the family member said he “isn’t sure where the other half of the coins would be” and that the coin collector “willfully moved out of the residence a week prior.” The current occupant didn’t want him to return.

Property dispute: A caller in the 1100 block of Lincoln Avenue told police he and his wife “were having issues” and she showed up there and took his car keys, but police assistance was no longer needed as she decided to return them. Police advised him to obtain a divorce if there were any more property disputes.

Reported: A caller in the 1400 block of State Street reported hearing a gunshot Thursday. Police were unable to find anything amiss and were told by people on the next block “they believed they heard fireworks over the hill in the 1000 block of Adams Street.” Nothing unusual was found there, either.

Shots reported: A caller in the 100 block of Lincoln Avenue reported hearing “20-30 gunshots nearby” Saturday. Police were unable to find evidence that anyone had been shooting.

Booked: Cody Harris, 27, 800 Oakmont Ave., Steubenville, bench warrants (Wayne County) and Wintersville County Court, Friday.

Code issues: Notice of violation was sent to the owner/occupant of properties at 615 Ross St., where litter and scrap were piling up outside the residence.

Booked: Jason Jones, 41, no address listed, probation violation (Wintersville County Court warrant), Saturday.

Cited: Cynthia R. Smith, 64, no address listed, expired operator’s license; Isaac L. Rhodes, 32, Whitesville, Ky., speeding (school zone); Abrianna Pugh, 24, Wheeling, expired registration; Sara Logsdon, 39, 486 S. 6th St., Steubenville, driving under suspension; James McGee, 57, 43 Wood St., Smithfield, expired/unlawful plates; Lucas Cayer, Celebration, Fla., blocking a driveway; Thomas Wellingg, 410 Maxwell Ave., Steubenville, driving under suspension; Brandon M. Witzel, 21, 3272 Sunset Blvd., Steubenville, assured clear distance ahead after allegedly rear-ending another motorist in the 500 block of Lovers Lane.