A cell-phone photo of a 16-year-old upset her dad, a child custody order seemed to have aged out before the child did, quelling a bar fight in Austin needed some Port Allegany Police Department help, and a book bag was stolen right on the Square. Also, there was a case of ornithological mistaken identity.

Those were among matters that called for Port Allegany Police Department attention in the week that began Monday, September 20 and ended Sunday, September 26.

But there was also a very grim event involving the discovery of a suicide by hanging, the second suicide to occur in the borough in the past several months.

 Last Tuesday at 12:45 a.m. Officer Adam Dickerson arrested Christopher R. Johnson, 38, of 2875 West Valley Road, Smethport, on a warrant after initiating a traffic stop for suspected DUI. Charges were filed at Magisterial Judge  Bill Todd’s office. Johnson was transported to McKean County Jail.

At 7:45 a.m. Chief Dave Distrola was dispatched to 3787 Route 155 N to perform a welfare check at the request of Pennsylvania State Police. Distrola was told that a neighbor had observed the subject leaving for work that morning. Distrola relayed the information to the state police.

That afternoon at 3:35 p.m., Dickerson dealt with a child custody matter involving a 16-year-old male who did not want to leave his mother’s East Mill Street residence to go with his dad. Dickerson saw that the custody order had expired in 1996, and advised the father to take the necessary legal steps to clarify the custody issue.

 At 10:55 p.m. Dickerson stopped a motorist reported to be driving erratically. Marc B. Gross of 813 West Eldred Road, Eldred, was found to be DUI, according the allegations in the arrest documents, and was charged and processed accordingly.

 Last Wednesday was quiet until 4:15 p.m., when Officer Dickerson received a complaint from Caleb Turner to the effect that Robert Lathrop had stolen a picnic table that had been given to Turner by a friend. Lathrop claimed that the property was his and that Turner’s friend had no right to give it away. Dickerson’s notes did not include how the matter was concluded.

 At 4:45p.m. Dickerson received a complaint of harassment by communication alleging that a female had received unwanted, threatening text messages from Jessie Windsor of Open Brook Road. Dickerson spoke with Windsor and advised him that from then on, any such communications would result in charges being filed. No further complaints were received.

Thursday at 8:20 a.m. Thursday Chief Distrola received a complaint from a Mill Street father indicating that he found a photo on his 16-year-old daughter’s cell phone showing her hugging a Hispanic adult male. Distrola said he would speak to the man and inform him of the girl’s age, and would advise the man to stay away from her.

At 8:35 a.m. Distrola was notified that a man was hanging by his neck from a pipe support under the northeast end of the West Mill Street (Brooklynside) Bridge. Investigation revealed that Benjamin L. Keech, 37, formerly of Port Allegany and recently of Roulette, had committed suicide. Death was caused by asphyxiation due to hanging. 

Friday at 7:50 a.m. Chief Distrola received a complaint of the theft of a TomTom GPS device from a parked, unlocked vehicle on Harrison Street. 

At 2 p.m. Distrola got a report of a downed hawk, from 804 North Main Street. He contacted the Pennsylvania Game Commission and found the injured bird to be a ruffed grouse. The grouse was dispatched and removed.

At 3:50 p.m. Officer Tony Tanner went to the scene of a reported vehicle crash at Main Street at Mill Street. Donald Clark of 235 Trout Brook Road, Roulette was operating a 1993 white Chevy truck when it ran into the back of a 2006 silver Audi operated by Katarzyn Lukowska-Baker of 28 Chestnut Avenue, Bala Cynwyd. No injuries were reported. The drivers were advised to exchange insurance information. The crash was deemed to be the result of brake failure on Clark’s Chevy.

At 6:20 p.m. Tanner got a complaint from a juvenile who stated that he had set his black-and-white Under Armour bookbag near a tree while he played football on the Square. When he went to retrieve the bag it was gone. He said the bag contained his school books.

At 10:34 p.m. Tanner took care of a vehicle lock-out at Penny Lane.

Saturday at 11:18 a.m. Officer Kyle Day responded to a report of a possible attempted break-in at Apartment B1, Penny Lane. He spoke with Amber Stuckey, who said she had returned home and found her back door kicked open. Nothing was reported missing. Day reported speaking with neighbors, who said they had not seen or heard anything out of the ordinary.

Officer Tanner was on duty at 2:43 a.m. Sunday when there was a request for assistance with a bar fight at The Cricket in Austin. Tanner assisted in detaining subjects and transporting them to the Austin Police Department. 

At 9 a.m. Officer Day was dispatched to Kwik-Fill for a report of non-payment for a purchase of $41.01 in gas and a pack of cigarettes. Manager Brenda Haggard said that on Saturday, September 25, Savanna Carpenter received the cigarettes and the gas and said she did not have any money to pay for her purchases. She agreed to return to the Kwik-Fill and pay, but failed to do so. Day was unable to locate or contact Carpenter. Charges are pending.

At 5:16 p.m. Officer Tanner responded to a reported alarm at Citizens Bank. A cleaning person had activated the alarm inadvertently.

At 6:20 p.m. Tanner received a report of juveniles causing a disturbance on Main Street. He advised the individuals to curb their vulgar language and leave. This ended the disturbance.