Police Log: Feb. 1, 2022

By Staff Reports
The Tube City Almanac
February 01, 2022
Posted in: Crime and Police News

• Arrest records published here were provided by the McKeesport Police Department.
• Not all arrest records are published.
• An arrest does not mean the person identified has been convicted of a crime.
• All people arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Firearms, Robbery Charges: A McKeesport woman has been charged with robbery and firearms violations following a Jan. 1 incident. Valerie Gould-Burke, 55, faces a preliminary hearing Feb. 14 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi in McKeesport. City police allege that a woman was walking home that morning with her daughters when another woman, seated in a parked car, pointed a gun at them. A few minutes later, a man called 9-1-1 to report that a similar incident had happened to him in the 500 block of Sinclair Street. The victim told police a woman pointed a handgun at him and demanded money. Police identified the suspect in both incidents as Gould-Burke. Police said that when questioned, she was in possession of a .40-caliber handgun that had been reported stolen from Philadelphia. An attempt had been made to grind the serial number off of the handgun, police said. Gould-Burke is charged with robbery, carrying a firearm without a license, unlawful possession of a firearm, simple assault, terroristic threats, carrying a firearm with an altered serial number, recklessly endangering other persons and receiving stolen property.

Assault Charges: A North Versailles Twp. woman is charged with aggravated assault after police said she spit at and struck McKeesport officers investigating a disturbance. Christina Marie Sickler, 20, is charged by McKeesport police with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Police said they were dispatched to the 1200 block of Packer Street just before 11 a.m. Jan. 2 for a report of a loud argument. Police said a woman identified as Sickler was asked to leave the premises but refused. Police said officers told Sickler that she was under arrest, at which time she is accused of spitting on officers, kicking them and attempting to hit them with a metal chair. Sickler faces a preliminary hearing Feb. 28 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi in McKeesport.

Drug Charges: A Duquesne woman faces a hearing Feb. 7 before Allegheny County Judge Wrenna L. Watson in connection with a July 1 incident at an apartment on Walnut Street. Taren Kearney, 39, is charged by McKeesport police with possession of controlled substances. Police allege that officers assisting a state constable who was serving an eviction notice observed a woman identified as Kearney in possession of several white “stamp” bags of suspected heroin. Police said that after her arrest, officers searched Kearney and discovered 34 bags of heroin, a plastic baggy of suspected cocaine and two crack pipes. Following a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi, Kearney was ordered held for court and is being held in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of bond.

Firearms, Stolen Property Charges: A McKeesport man is scheduled for trial March 24 before Allegheny County Judge Jennifer Satler in connection with an Oct. 14 incident. Elijah Butler, 19, is being held in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond. McKeesport police said that a vehicle was observed driving recklessly near the intersection of Evans and Oak streets as several children were attempting to cross the intersection. Police stopped the vehicle and questioned the driver, identified as Butler. A loaded firearm was found under Butler’s seat and the vehicle had been reported stolen, police said. Butler was charged by McKeesport police with carrying a firearm without a license, receiving stolen property, driving without a license and careless driving.

Robbery Charge: A McKeesport teen-ager has been charged with robbery in connection with a Nov. 2 incident. Evan Sonick, 18, faces a preliminary hearing on March 3 before Magisterial District Judge Eugene Riazzi in McKeesport. A 15-year-old victim told police that he met a male, whom he identified as Sonick, at a wrestling event and that Sonick invited him back to his home for dinner. Police allege that as they walked to Sonick’s home, Sonick and three other people attacked the victim, then stole his school bag and fled the area. The bag contained three cell phone chargers, wireless earphones, identification cards and other personal items, police said. The victim was treated at UPMC McKeesport hospital for head injuries. Sonick is charged by McKeesport police with robbery, simple assault, theft and criminal conspiracy. Police said at three other individuals are also wanted in connection with the incident.

Originally published February 01, 2022.

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