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Beaver County Chamber’s Monday Memo:: 01/13/25
Category: News
4 people shot in North Sewickley Sunday evening
Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published January 12, 2025 9:46 P.M. UPDATED 10:04 P.M., 10:52 P.M.
(North Sewickley Township, Pa) – Initial reports indicated that up to 4 people were found shot to death at a residence on Shaffer Road Sunday evening around 8:30pm. Responders then called for medivac helicopters as two victims were determined to be alive.
Beaver County Radio witnessed two people being taken by lifeflight to the hospital around 10pm. Police also called for a drone team to respond.
Beaver County Emergency Services stationed a command center as the situation continued with SWAT also on scene.
The scene was still active and no suspects or arrests were announced as of 1am Monday.
North Sewickley Township Police Department made a statement Monday morning around 11:30am that the incident was “contained” and there is “no threat to the public” without sharing any further information.
We have no additional information to share at this time.
Rochester Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Cocaine Trafficking Operation
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Rochester, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on January 8, 2025, to 15 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Roberto Muniz Sanchez, 46.
According to information presented to the Court, Sanchez was a member of an organized drug trafficking group that obtained kilogram quantities of cocaine via United States Postal Service parcel from Puerto Rico and then sold them in western Pennsylvania and elsewhere as part of an ongoing drug trafficking conspiracy. From approximately October 2023 to March 2024, Sanchez knowingly conspired with the leaders of the drug trafficking organization to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine in and around Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, with Sanchez having purchased quantities of cocaine on several different dates during that period for both distribution to others and personal use.
Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation leading to Sanchez’s conviction in this case in close collaboration with the Lawrence County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Castle City Police Department, Ellwood City Police Department, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Department of Agriculture, Union Township Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and Pennsylvania State Police.
This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Second Suspect in Aliquippa VFW Assault Arrested
(Photo from Aliquippa Police Department Facebook Page)
(Aliquippa, Pa,) A second suspect in the brutal assault that occurred on Sunday night at the Aliquippa VFW has been arrested according The Aliquippa Police Department’s Facebook Page. Officers said that City Detective Mosura filed charges and obtained an Arrest Warrant on Thursday for 43 year-old Ronald Brown, of Ambridge, in reference to the VFW Assault incident that took place on 01/05/2025. Through the investigation and while reviewing video footage of the incident, Detective Mosura was able to identify Brown as a second offender in this incident. Brown was not on scene for the beginning of the assault and went there after that assault had already been going on for some time.
When Brown arrived at the bar, the victim was being brutally and violently assaulted by Brett Ours. At this time during the assault, the victim appeared to be battered and completely defenseless. Brown stood by and watched the assault occur. Brown clearly observed the severity of the assault and that the victim was completely helpless. Brown also knew at this time, nobody had dialed 911 and there was no help on the way for the victim. Seeing all of this and knowing all the facts, BROWN made the decision to join in on the attack. As Ours held the defenseless victim to the ground, Brown repeatedly punched the victim in his head, neck and facial area approximately 7 times. After repeatedly punching the victim, BROWN wiped his hands off and continued to watch Ours violently assault the victim. Just like Brett OURS, Ronald Brown never showed indifference to the life of the victim, and instead Brown increased the violence and aggression toward the victim by joining in on the assault. It was reported that Brown went to the bar due to the victim “making a comment about his daughter”, prior to the assault, however, that has not been proven as a fact and is no excuse or defense for the brutal & violent assault that took place.
Brown has been charged with the following:
Liability for Conduct of Another (Felony)
Aggravated Assault (Felony)
Simple Assault (Misdemeanor)
On 01/09/2025 at approximately 2pm, Brown turned himself in and was arraigned on his charges. The Magistrate set Brown’s bond at $100,000.00. Brown was lodged in the Beaver County Jail pending his Preliminary Hearing.
Beaver Falls Homicide Suspect Captured By U.S. Marshals
(Photo provided with release)
(Pittsburgh, Pa.) – U.S. Marshal Stephen Eberle, Western District of Pennsylvania, announced late Thursday afternoon that Marshals have arrested Beaver Falls Homicide suspect, Daniel Lance Felo II, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania.
Felo is charged by the Beaver Falls Police Department with criminal homicide,
possession of a firearm, and robbery. These charges stem from an incident on December 30, 2024, in Beaver Falls where a 48-year-old male was found deceased.
The U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force received a request from the Beaver Falls Police Department asking for assistance in locating and apprehending Felo. Through their investigation, the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force developed information that Felo may be staying in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. On January 9, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Task Force members, assisted by the Connellsville Police Department and Beaver Falls Police Department, arrested
Felo without incident at the 500 block of North Pittsburgh Street in the City of Connellsville.
The arrest of this fugitive is the direct result of the cooperative investigative efforts between, U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms,
and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
“The partnerships we have with city, county, state, and federal law enforcement is key to the overall success of the U.S. Marshal Service and our mission of capturing the most violent and dangerous fugitives. The members of the Fugitive Task Force work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.”
Tips can be submitted to the U.S. Marshals service directly and anonymously by downloading the USMS Tips app to your Apple or Android device. It can also be accessed online at https://www.usmarshals.gov/tips/index.html. You can also follow the latest news and updates about the
U.S. Marshals Service on Twitter: @USMarshalsHQ.
PennDOT announces program for transit agencies for both service information and planning for transits
(File Photo of PennDOT logo)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT announced on Wednesday that the Fixed Route Intelligent Transportation System (FRITS) is now in use at thirty-three different transit agencies around Pennsylvania. FRITS provides planning for transits and service information in real-time through an app called myStop. Passengers can also track where their bus is and the distance their bus is away from the stop. The PennDOT FRITS service also counts riders on and off vehicles, tracks vehicles that are from transit agencies and reports data throughout Pennsylvania.
Monaca man charged after hitting a Center Township police vehicle and police officer
(File Photo of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Center Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver report that both a Center Township police vehicle and a police officer were hit by a car that lost control in Center Township. At 8:16 a.m. on December 20th, 2024, forty-six-year-old Jonathan Dohanich of Monaca was driving his 2016 Subaru Forester on Temple Road just west of Elkhorn Road. Dohanich hit a Center Township police vehicle and an officer who was part of an investigation into another crash involving two vehicles. Dohanich was charged by police after this incident.
Growing concerns about Christian nationalism in Pennsylvania
(File Photo: Caption for photo: Group of christian are holding hands and pray together outdoor.)
(Reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)
(Harrisburg, PA) There are growing concerns about the prevalence of Christian nationalism, an ideology that seeks to establish a theocracy rooted in Christian principles. Research indicates about one-in-three Pennsylvanians support Christian nationalist views, which opponents argue challenge the American ideal of separation of church and state. Rachel Tabachnick, an independent researcher, says the rise of Christian nationalism, seen during the 2024 elections, threatens reproductive healthcare access. On a recent episode of the “(In)Accessible” podcast, Tabachnick spoke about the history of Christian nationalism, and how Theocratic Libertarianism advocates for laws based on biblical principles. Tabachnick says that movement seeks minimal federal government and governance based on biblical law, aiming to dismantle institutions like the IRS and Department of Education.
Four hospitals from Allegheny Health Network get awarded by Healthgrades
(Photo Provided with Release)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release from Allegheny Health Network, four of their hospitals received Healthgrades’ 2024 and 2025 clinical quality and patient experience awards. AHN Allegheny General Hospital was given a top fifty hospital in America for cardiac surgery and a top one hundred hospital in America for cardiovascular care. AHN Allegheny General Hospital was also the best hospital in Western Pennsylvania for cardiac surgery, according to Healthgrades’ ratings. AHN Jefferson Hospital in Jefferson Hills, AHN Allegheny Valley Hospital in Natrona Heights and AHN Wexford Hospital also got Healthgrade awards for treatment of patients.
Midland Fine Wine and Good Spirits still undergoing renovations
(File Photo of Red Wine being poured into a glass)
(Reported by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano)
(Midland, PA) The Midland Fine Wine and Good Spirits store continues to undergo renovations. Giordano spoke with Shawn Kelly, the press secretary for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, who did not give specific details about their renovations for the Midland store. However, Kelly did say that the place will be built from the ground up on the inside. Kelly also gave an estimate of about eight to ten weeks for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to reopen the store, but the end date will depend on when most of the work begins. The Center Township, Hopewell Township, and East Rochester Fine Wine and Good Spirits locations remain open while the Midland store will take part in the renovation process.