Local News
Ex-Georgia man charged in killing
Detroit man was shot, robbed in ’08
FARRELL — A 20-year-old Shenango Valley man who came to the area from the Atlanta suburbs and has been busted with crack cocaine and marijuana is facing homicide, burglary and conspiracy charges stemming from the Dec. 20, 2008, shooting death and robbery of a Detroit-area man on Farrell’s main drag.
Troy Lamont Coleman, 38, of Detroit, was robbed, shot and killed in the 1200 block of Roemer Boulevard, after a night spent drinking at bars in Farrell. Cash was taken from Coleman but a 61-gram “cookie” of crack cocaine was found in his inside coat pocket during the autopsy.
He was shot at close range with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, police said.
Southwest Mercer County Regional police detectives have spent much of the past year working the case and Thursday charged Phillip Carnell Phifer, 20, whose last known address was on Mesabi Street in Sharon and who came to the area from Union City, Ga., near Atlanta.
Phifer was already in Mercer County Jail on an unrelated parole violation when Southwest authorities transported him to District Judge Ronald E. Antos, Farrell, to formally arraign him on charges of criminal homicide and burglary and conspiracy to commit both crimes.
It wasn’t the first time Phifer, who goes by “Dred” on the street, claimed he had “murked” — slang for murdered — someone, police said.
Four unidentified witnesses helped police crack the case.
Three male co-conspirators who haven’t been identified or charged were at a house in the 1000 block of Hamilton Avenue when a female co-conspirator called and told them that a dude was passed out in a vehicle on Roemer Boulevard.
They wanted to rob Coleman, but needed a gun for protection. The drove by the car Coleman was passed out in, then saw Phifer walking in the 1000 block of Wallis Avenue. He told them he had a gun.
They went back to where Coleman was parked and rifled through his pockets. At some point Coleman came to and police allege Phifer shot him, firing twice initially then another six or seven shots, according to a cooperative witness.
Phifer told people in Farrell he had shot a man in Atlanta over a woman before he came here.
Dred also told people he shot Coleman, police said.
The case was the result of “good legwork by several officers,” Southwest Chief Riley Smoot said.
Detectives “diligently didn’t give up on (the case) on behalf of the victim and the victim’s family, Smoot said.
Police initially had different suspects in the case, but Quentin Darrell Mathews and Michael William “M.J.” Golden were eliminated as suspects.
Police matched DNA results from a water bottle Pfifer drank from during an unrelated interrogation to a cigarette butt found at the shooting scene, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case.
“Investigators did an outstanding job to bring the case to this point,” Smoot said.
More people will be charged in the case, he said.
Phifer is being held in Mercer County Jail.
People facing homicide charges are not allowed bail in the commonwealth.
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League sets debate date; Dahlkemper ad questioned
Local political junkies, mark your calendars.
Third District Congressional rivals Kathy Dahlkemper and Mike Kelly will face off at a League of Woman Voters of Mercer County forum from 7 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the Sharon City Building.
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Are you going to Stoneboro Fair?
“I want some fries, straight off the bat,” a teen said as she strolled amid a seemingly endless stream of people running from the parking lot to the midway Saturday at the Stoneboro Fairgrounds.
The aroma of scrumptious fair food wafted through the fairgrounds on a cool afternoon that felt more like autumn than the waning days of summer.
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Court backs warrantless search that turned up gun
Superior Court issued a ruling recently that the Mercer County District Attorney believes will enhance the safety of policemen and women.
The court ruled Aug. 26 in a Mercer County Juvenile Court case that stemmed from an arrest made by Southwest Mercer County Regional police. -
Hood surfer back home, recovering
Natalie Huff, the 17-year-old girl critically hurt in a hood-surfing accident, made it home Friday for the first time since she was run over by a friend’s car last month.
David Huff, Natalie’s father, said she was in excellent spirits.
“She just wants to come home,” he said. “She wants out of the hospital. She’s doing really well.”
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Kelly: Jobs are the key to restoring economy
When businesses are healthy, they hire people, and everyone wins, according to Congressional candidate Mike Kelly
The Republican challenger announced his “Pathways to Prosperity” job plan Friday in time for Labor Day weekend at JFS Wealth Advisors in Hermitage. He also made stops in Butler, Crawford, and Erie counties.
Kelly, who faces U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, Erie, D-3rd District in November, said he’s been up and down the county and hears about two concerns: jobs and the economy.
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Couple restoring a local landmark
The gardens were renowned and the house was a resting stop for future presidents.
Now, Dan Briceland and his wife Kristin are restoring the structure at 379 state Route 7 in Brookfield to its original glory.
Built in 1816 by Navy Capt. James Christy, the dilapidated house went up for sale this spring. The Bricelands, who have always wanted to restore an historic house, put in a bid and won.
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Cleanup planned for 2nd city neighborhood
The Irvine Avenue cleanup in Sharon was so successful that similar efforts are being planned for another part of the city.
The Sharon Beautification Commission is organizing a cleanup for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 2 for Meek Street and several surroundings streets, Sharon City Manager Tom Lavorini told council Thursday.
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Lock up vehicles, police urge
Residents should be alert for suspicious activity and keep their cars and homes locked in the wake of a recent rash of thefts from cars — some of which were left unlocked, Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Chief Riley Smoot said.
The most recent thefts were reported Wednesday in the Dogwood Lane, Oak Hill Drive and Kiwanis Road area of West Middlesex.
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Blue Streak thrills again
“It was great. What else can I say?” Dave Hahner said Thursday, just moments after taking his second ride on the Blue Streak.
That’s right. For the first time since 2006, Conneaut Lake Park’s historic roller coaster is back up and running. Once again ready, as Jack Moyers, chairman of the board of trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, put it, “to bring thrills and chills to children of all ages.”
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3 Ohio men in county jail accused of Walmart theft ring
Three Ohio men are in Mercer County Jail for allegedly running a theft ring that stole video games and systems from Walmart stores and then sold them for cash.
Thomas “Tommy” Hamilton, 42, of Ashtabula; Alex Plitt, 34, of Jefferson; and Christopher Patton, 25, address unknown, were caught Aug. 25 after hitting up Walmart stores in Ohio and Pennsylvania for at least several months, Hempfield Township patrolman Daniel McCloskey said Wednesday.
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League sets debate date; Dahlkemper ad questioned
