Police Blotter: Officers Recover a Bicycle, Investigate Thefts

recently helped recover a stolen bicycle from a juvenile, the latest bicycle incident after a string of thefts totaling thousands of dollars in stolen bikes.

Police were called to Blackburn Road at 2:54 a.m. Aug. 27 to assist with an intoxicated juvenile who was riding a bicycle up Blackburn. After questioning the person, police said the juvenile admitted to stealing the bike off a porch in the 300 block of Centennial Avenue.

Officers returned the bike to the owner, who did not want to press charges. The juvenile was taken to the Sewickley Heights police station and cited with underage drinking.

Hours after recovering the bicycle, police handled another bicycle theft report.

• Police were called at 8:53 a.m. Aug. 27 to the 600 block of Straight Street for a stolen bike worth $600. The victim told officers he hung the bike up on his back porch the night before and when he returned that morning to get the bike, it was gone. The bicycle is described as a brown 29-inch KHS Solo 1 with a tag on it from “Break Away Bikes.”

Police handled a couple other stolen bike incidents, including a Wexford resident's report Aug. 21 that his daughter’s medium-sized mountain bike was stolen in the Sewickley.

• Police said the girl left her bike in a backyard in the 200 block of Chestnut Street. When her father came to pick her up, the bike was gone, police said. Police said the bike, valued at $300, is described as a Diamondback mostly silver with a little blue in it. 

• Another victim told police Aug. 18 that his bike was stolen from the Sewickley about 7:30 p.m. Aug. 17. Police said the man secured his bike to the bike rack on his vehicle in the parking lot and went inside to work out. When he returned at 9 p.m., police said the bike was gone. Police said the bike was worth $2,800 and is described as a black Trek ZX racing bike with Iron Man patches on the front forks of the bike.

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

Burglary attempt reported

Police went to a home at 2:48 a.m. Aug. 26 in the 200 block of Melville Lane for a report of a burglary in progress. Police said someone banging on a window awakened a resident. An investigation continues.

Flooded roadway report

Police were called at 4:37 Aug. 25 to the intersection of Route 65 and Chestnut Street for a report of Route 65 being flooded. Officers removed a large piece of debris from a storm drain, and the water receded, police said.

Drunken-driving charges

The West Hills DUI Task Force, which includes police departments from Sewickley, , , , and Moon, stopped several vehicles between 10 p.m. Aug. 20 and 3 a.m. Aug. 21 during a sobriety checkpoint on Route 65 in Sewickley.

At 12:37 a.m., police said Kevin Neff, 24, of Avalon failed a field sobriety test after he was stopped. At 1:30 p.m., police stopped George Trent III, 56, of Loxley, AL, who also failed a field-sobriety test. Both men submitted to blood-alcohol tests. Neff was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and driving while suspended. Police said Trent would be charged with driving under the influence.

Dog complaint

Police received a complaint at 2:48 p.m. Aug. 23 about a dog running loose. Police said the pit bull belongs to Hugh McMaster and always gets out. Police cited McMaster for allowing his dog to run at large.

Curfew violation

Officers were patrolling at 4:20 a.m. Aug. 23 when police stopped three juveniles who were having a sleepover in . Police escorted the three boys back to the residence and warned the parents they would be cited for curfew violation if it happened again.

Underage drinking party

Police were called to assist at 11:52 p.m. Aug. 22 to the 300 block of East Drive in for a report of an underage drinking party. Police found one underage girl regurgitating in a closet. She was transported to . Police caught another male after a brief foot chase. Several others were found hiding in the home.