Slippery Rock University Police
Monday — Police charged Trent R. Whittaker, 22, of New Castle with drugged driving stemming from a traffic stop earlier this month on Cross Street near Kiester Road. He was stopped about 12:40 a.m. April 1 for having a burned out headlight.
The car he was driving smelled of marijuana, court documents said, and he turned over a small grinder with suspected marijuana inside. He then handed over a Mason jar containing a baggie of suspected marijuana and a smoking pipe.
Whittaker admitted having smoked marijuana the previous afternoon, documents said. He was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital for a blood test that confirmed he had marijuana in his system.
He is charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and a lighting violation.
State Police, Butler
Monday — Michael L. Burk Jr., 27, of Slippery Rock was charged with having suspected cocaine and other contraband earlier this month in Slippery Rock Township. An April 4 call for a suspicious person on Forrester Road led police to the defendant.
Police said they learned that Burk was wanted on a bench warrant out of Mercer County. He was searched and found with a small case containing about one-half gram of suspected cocaine, according to court documents. He also had a pen that was cut in half and two gifts cards with white residue.
Burk is charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
9:10 p.m. Friday — Gayje Lee Vilsack, 25, of Slippery Rock was arrested after he allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend during a domestic dispute at her apartment in Slippery Rock Township.
The victim, according to court documents, told police Vilsack pushed and pulled her several times, and shoved her into a wall, injuring her ankle. She left the apartment and drove to a convenience store in Muddy Creek Township where she called authorities.
The woman subsequently went to a hospital where she was diagnosed with two broken bones in her right foot.
Police later that night spoke to the defendant, who admitted that he and the woman got into an argument but he accused her of pushing him first. When he pushed back, documents said, she fell.
Vilsack was arraigned on charges of simple assault and harassment. He was released on $2,500 unsecured bail following arraignment.
