Police Blotter: A Stolen Purse, A Barking Dog and Other Complaints

An Ambridge woman reported the theft of her wallet containing $320 and credit cards from her purse  July 18 at the

said the woman left her purse unattended on a chair for more than 20 minutes. When she returned, she noticed the cash and credit cards were missing, police said. 

The woman told police she noticed a male in his 20s in the area earlier, but she did not see anyone touch her things. 

Someone turned in one of the woman's credit cards to on July 23.

The card was found near the Sewickley Bridge and turned over to Sewickley Police. The woman told police she cancelled all of her credit cards. 

Sewickley Police also supplied the following information; arrests do not indicate a conviction.

Driver cited with violations

Police stopped a southbound car at 8:25 p.m. July 23 on Route 65 in the Osborne Plaza for an expired registration. Police said Glenn VanKirk, 33, of Pittsburgh, did not have a driver’s license and his license was suspended. Police said they cited VanKirk with traffic violations and allowed a passenger, who had a valid license, to drive the car away. 

Expired registration cited

Police stopped a sport-utility vehicle at 7:43 p.m. July 23 in the 200 block of Broad Street for an expired registration sticker. The officer noticed the driver’s side door was tied shut with a bungee cord. The driver, Michael P. Keally, 39, of Ambridge, told the officer it wouldn’t stay shut without the cord. Police cited Keally with traffic offenses and towed his car.

Suspicious activity reported

Police received a call at 12:30 a.m. July 23 to the 1500 block of Center Street for a report of a person with a walkie-talkie in a suspicious vehicle near the railroad tracks. Police checked the area, but didn’t find anyone. Officers said they believe the person was a railroad employee.

Dog abuse reported

Police were called at 1:52 p.m. July 18 to the parking lot off Green Street regarding dogs tied up to a pole. Police responded but did not see any dogs or owners.

Barking dog complaint

Police received a complaint about barking dogs on Centennial Avenue at 9:15 a.m. July 18 but found no barking dogs.

Harassment reported

Police received a complaint from a woman about possible harassment after she came across her picture on a Pittsburgh gossip, rumor and speculation website. Police determined the website falls under the protection of the First Amendment.

Property damage report

Police were called at 2:45 p.m. July 14 to the 200 block of Bank Street for a report of three juveniles damaging property. Officers said they did not find any juveniles or damage.

Neighborhood mischief reported

Someone knocked down garbage cans and recycling bins along the 500 block of Academy Avenue and the 100 block of Centennial Avenue. Police said trash was strewn around the street. An officer pushed the trash off the road but was unable to put it all back into the recycling containers and garbage cans. Police checked the area, but said they found no one.

Suspicious activity reported 

A woman heard a dog yelp on July 20 in the 300 block of Thorn Street and asked the man walking the dog if everything was OK. Police said the man asked if she was accusing him of abusing his dog and told her to mind her own business. She told him there was no reason to be rude and asked that he leave the area. She called the police 45 minutes later when the motion light came on in her yard. Police checked the areas and said they found nothing of concern.

Home evacuated

A home in the 800 block of Thorn Street was evacuated at 9:30 p.m. July 20 after a report of a natural gas leak and gas filling the residence. Police said the and Columbia Gas workers also responded. Firefighters ventilated the home and cleared the air shortly before 10 p.m. 

Vehicle towed

Police stopped a pickup on Route 65 and Boundary Street at 5:30 p.m. July 20 after the officer discovered a suspended registration on the car due to insurance cancellation. The driver, Terry Work, 46, of Ambridge, told police he knew there was a problem and sent in a payment. Police cited Work with traffic violations and towed his truck. Police said Work was visibly upset but calmed down after they asked him several time to do so.told him several times to do so.

Car crash reported

Police stopped a woman in Haysville at 11:15 p.m. July 19 as she was walking south in the roadway of Route 65. Brittany Parasida, of Baden, told police she was walking to Emsworth because she wrecked her boyfriend’s car and hit a barrier. Police said she was able to drive the car to Edgeworth. The car owner was notified to retrieve it, and Parasida was transported to the hospital by Valley Ambulance.