CRIME BRIEFS

A Clarksville man is accused of carjacking and assaulting a woman in front of a high rise in California Borough on Monday.

According to court records, James Raymond Sickles, 28, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, robbery, harassment, unauthorized use of automobiles and other vehicles as well as driving with a suspended or revoked license.

The incident happened in front of Liberty Tower high rise in California.

According to police, Sickles allegedly pretended to help an elderly woman with her walker, then grabbed her, threw her against her red Ford Escape and stole her car, according to the criminal complaint. The vehicle nearly hit the victim as it sped away.

Court records state that the car has GPS tracking, which showed the car heading toward Clarksville. The car later that day went at a high speed into a guardrail. Sickles ran from the vehicle and headed toward his stepfather’s house, the affidavit states. Sickles’ stepfather later returned with Sickles to the scene, according to the criminal complaint, after he told his stepfather, “I’m going to prison.”

Sickles was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Joshua Kanalis Monday afternoon. A preliminary hearing before Kanalis is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. July 10. Sickles was denied bail and is being held at the Washington County Correctional Facility.

— Sarah Pellis

City man arrested on probation violation for gun and drug charges

Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus announced Wednesday that a McKeesport man has been taken into custody on a probation violation involving gun and drug charges.

Rashaad Fitzgerald, 32, pleaded guilty in 2021 to one count of possession with intent to deliver and one firearms violation and was subsequently sentenced to 11 1/2 to 23 months in the Allegheny County Jail followed by five years probation.

A bench warrant for violating that probation was issued in April of this year after Wilkinsburg Police charged Fitzgerald with simple assault when his girlfriend reported that he struck her numerous times inside of a vehicle. County detectives obtained information that Fitzgerald was in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh and spotted him Wednesday on the front steps of a home on Gerrit Street. As detectives approached in their vehicles, Fitzgerald allegedly attempted to flee on foot.

During the foot pursuit, Fitzgerald reached into his waistband causing a gun to fall to the ground. Fitzgerald continued to run before being taken into custody on Fransktown Avenue.

Detectives conducted a search of Fitzgerald confiscating nearly four dozen stamp bags of suspected heroin. During the search, Fitzgerald allegedly told the detectives, “You’re lucky I didn’t shoot one of you,” according to Kraus.

Fitzgerald was transported to the Allegheny County Jail for arraignment on the simple assault charge and additional possession and possession with intent to deliver charges.

— MVI

A California man was arrested Monday after allegedly stealing more than $130,000 from the Young Men’s Club games of chance machines.

According to court records, Timothy Hoffman, 63, was charged with three counts of theft by deception as well as deceptive or fraudulent business practices after an alleged incident on Feb. 18. Hoffman was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Joshua Kanalis Monday morning.

Hoffman, a member of the Young Men’s Club at 1140 Edwards St., was in charge of removing the money from the games of chance machine every other week, according to the criminal complaint. Half of the proceeds went to the company that owns the machines while the other half remained with the club.

In February, the club’s chief financial officer Rick Anderson contacted police when he realized Hoffman was shorting the club from January 2021 to January 2024.

According to the criminal complaint, in 2021, the club received $62,537 and Hoffman produced $9,500 to the club. In 2022, the club received $49,129 and Hoffman produced $16,800 to the club.

Additionally in 2023, Hoffman should have given the club $67,185 when he gave them $25,400. The club collected $9,389 in January 2024 and Hoffman only gave out $3,500.

Hoffman was discharged from his duties in February, with a total of $133,049 withheld from the club, according to the criminal complaint.

A preliminary hearing before Kanalis is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. July 10. Hoffman was held at Washington County Correctional Facility Monday until his $133,049 bail, the same amount Hoffman is accused of stealing, was posted that day by a professional bondsman.

— Sarah Pellis