Steubenville Police

Renters beware: A Pine Street resident said the owner of a neighboring property asked him to check the building after prospective tenants showed up for a viewing and discovered someone already living there, Tuesday. The woman living in the property produced a rental agreement and a receipt where she sent $800 for the first month’s rent and told police she’d found the listing on Zillow and had toured the home before agreeing to lease it. Police said property records show the owner is the New Jersey man who asked the neighbor to check on the property and said he told them the lease she’d shown him was fictitious. The woman called the man with whom she’d worked during the leasing process and said he’d said he would send someone to the property to speak with police but no one showed up. He also stopped answering phone calls. The woman who was bilked out of the $800 was told to contact the bank and worked out an agreement with the actual landlord to stay another day.

Punched: A woman said she was punched in the face as she left a downtown business, Tuesday. She said the woman, who she knows, also grabbed her phone and tossed it to the ground. She said she’s been having problems with the woman, who accused her of sleeping with her roommate. Police said one of her cheeks had some redness.

Neighborhood problem: A Steele Avenue resident who’s had problems with a neighbor in the past said he was going into his house today when the man “began to scream at him and use profane language in front of his wife and small child,” Tuesday. He said he initially brushed it off “but the male continued and then made several veiled threats.” He said the man “seems to be under the influence of an intoxicant during several of (their) encounters and said neighbors have also reported having problems with the man. Police advised him of the process for obtaining a protection order and tried unsuccessfully to make contact with the neighbor.

Potty mouth: A caller reported a white male wearing a grey shirt was “shouting obscenities near the creek” in Union Cemetery, Tuesday. Police located him sitting in the woods near the creek with bags of groceries. He said he was walking home and had stopped to rest, and when advised of the complaint said he hadn’t caused any problems and would be on his way soon.

Contradictory: A Ridge Avenue resident said her teen-aged son punched her in the stomach and pushed her, Tuesday. She told police she wasn’t interested in pursuing charges and only wanted him to follow the rules she has for her house. The juvenile denied punching his mother, telling police “(he) only pushed her away from him after she punched him in the face. She denied hitting him and, after talking with police, took him to a family member’s house.

Hit/skip: A driver was cited after he allegedly fled a two-vehicle accident on Washington at Fourth Street, Tuesday. Corey M. Strope, 25, 615 Highland Ave., Tiltonsville, was cited for assured clear distance ahead and hit/skip. Armed with a description of the vehicle, police said they stopped Strope in the 1500 block of Sunset Boulevard and allege that it wasn’t until they told him the accident was caught on the city camera and there was a witness that he admitted his involvement. Police said the other driver told them she was stopped in traffic in the passing lane at the red light when she was rear-ended, and noted her vehicle had moderate damage.

Cited: Ricky Barnett, 55, 1408 State St., Steubenville, intoxication, Tuesday. Police allege Barnett was on the ground in the 700 block of Adams Street with a 24-ounce can of beer beside him, and said when they spoke with him “it was apparent he was highly intoxicated … (and) it was apparent he had fallen while walking.”

Cold shoulder: A downtown resident whose car was taken without his permission and recovered damaged told police the home health aide who he believes took it won’t return his calls nor has she been back to his residence since it was taken, Tuesday.

Money missing: A city resident filed a fraud report, Tuesday. He told police someone purchased items through Amazon and paid for them with his money. He said he was out $725.

Stolen car: A North Seventh Street resident told police his car was stolen over the weekend. He told police he’d waited to report the theft because he thought he knew who took it and was giving the individual a chance to return it before he reported it stolen.

No boundaries: A resident in the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue reported someone dumped bagged garbage in their trash can, Tuesday. Police were able to identify the offender, who denied leaving her trash in someone else’s can. She was advised if it happens again she’ll be cited.

Mowers stolen: An Oak Grove resident reported the theft of two lawnmowers, Tuesday. He said a witness reported seeing two juveniles pushing them up Wellesley Avenue.

Booked: Tashara J. Jett, 32, 241 N. Seventh St., Steubenville, bench warrant, Tuesday.

Code issues: Notices of violation were sent to owners/occupants of properties at 1312 Oregon Ave., 1517 Oregon Ave., 1659 Oregon Ave., 4040 Valley View Drive, 1407 Ridge Ave., 410 Buena Vista Blvd., 414 Buena Vista Blvd.

Prohibited left turn: Cited for failure to obey a traffic control device at the intersection of Bryden Road and Sunset Boulevard were John F. Stevey, 59, 507 Woodland Ave., Steubenville; Elizabeth M. Marsili, 34, 4571 State Route 151, Mingo Junction; Angela Jo Van Kirk, 61, 113 Marion Pl., Steubenville; Cody A. Larue, 38, 263 Skyview Drive, Wintersville; Timothy L. Walters, 64, 153 Starkey Blvd., Wintersville; Phillip W. Robinson Jr., 24, 326 S. Fifth St., Steubenville.