NEW CASTLE —
A man accused of driving to a school with a knife to pick up a child is facing charges.
James Arnold Caszatt, 36, of 197 Hyland Lane, New Bedford, also was determined to have been under the influence of narcotics, and is not the father of the child he was picking up, according to Pulaski Township police.
A security officer alerted police around 2:20 p.m. Feb. 13 that Caszatt was at Pulaski Elementary School to pick up a child he had claimed was his neighbor, because the child’s mother was shopping.
The security officer told police Caszatt had hit the curb twice with his maroon van.
Police said Caszatt was wearing a 9-inch survival knife with a 5-inch blade on his belt and had a container of six hydrocodone pills in his pocket.
Police charged Caszatt Tuesday in the court of District Judge Scott McGrath, after receiving his blood test results that reportedly were positive for driving under the influence.
As a result of the incident, police said, the Wilmington school district sent Caszatt a letter saying he is not allowed on any school district property as he does not have any children who attend classes there and he had showed up while under the influence, carrying a weapon.
A school employee told police Caszatt had been stumbling around at the school that day when he got out of the van.
The arresting officer said he had found Caszatt putting a Head Start student into the front seat. He advised Caszatt he is prohibited from having a knife on school grounds, and Caszatt said he had forgotten he had it on him, according to records.
The officer said he confiscated the knife and told Caszatt the child is too young to be riding in the front seat or in a booster seat.
Caszatt removed the child and put her in a car seat in the back of the van, the officer reported.
However, police ordered the child taken out of the vehicle and the student was escorted back into the school to wait for a parent.
Police said Caszatt failed a sobriety test. He submitted to a chemical blood test and a state trooper conducted a drug evaluation and determined Caszatt was under the influence of a narcotic depressant to a degree that it impaired his driving ability, according to reports.
A doctor who had prescribed the pills told police Caszatt should not have had them after 30 days, they said.
Caszatt is charged with possession of a weapon on school property, two counts of driving while under the influence of a controlled substance and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
McGrath has issued a warrant for his arrest.
(Email: dwachter@ncnewsonline.com)
Police Reports
Related Photos
-
James Arnold Caszatt
Discussion
Police: Man under influence took knife to school
- Police Reports
-
-
Cleaners cause fire in vacant Halco unit
Lawrence County Housing Authority employees cleaning a vacant unit sparked a blaze Monday, according to city firefighters. The fire just before noon in the Halco Drive apartment caused $10,000 damage to the kitchen, they said.
-
Business ‘total loss’ after fire
A Little Beaver Township business was destroyed when a fire started in a garage. Enon Valley Volunteer Fire Chief Ben Hostetler said the blaze broke out about 12:20 a.m. Sunday in the garage of John Curea at 1791 State Route 551.
-
Vacant house fire may have been intentional
A vacant house on the city’s West Side burned over the weekend. The New Castle police department fire investigator has been called to determine what caused a blaze at 418 Conn St., near Bell Avenue.
-
Ex-attorney faces new set of charges
A disbarred attorney, already jailed on theft-related charges, is facing a new criminal case. Michael Frisk, formerly of Ellwood City and now serving time in the Lawrence County jail, is charged with forgery and other counts for allegedly taking money from an Allegheny County client.
-
UPDATE: Man injured in fall at McConnell’s Mill
An Ohio man was injured in a fall at McConnell’s Mill State Park Monday afternoon. Cody Captain, 26, of Struthers, was visiting the park with a cousin, Sean Robertson, and taking photos at Kildoo Falls when he fell about 15 to 20 feet.
-
Man charged in South Side break-in
A South Side man accused of breaking into a neighbor’s vacant house is facing charges. Alex John Benkosky, 21, of 821 S. Mercer St. faces one count each of burglary, criminal trespass, flight to avoid apprehension and criminal mischief.
-
Man rescued at McConnell's Mill
A Struthers, Ohio, man was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital on Monday afternoon after he fell at McConnell's Mill State Park. The victim, 26, was visiting the park with his cousin when he slipped and fell after taking a photo.
-
Police use Taser in wanted man’s arrest
New Castle police say they used a Taser to arrest an Ellwood City man who was wanted on warrants. Police on Wednesday took 21-year-old Colby James Marshall of 5213 Ellwood Road into custody when they learned he was at a New Castle pharmacy.
-
Police: Man facing fourth DUI rams Shenango cruiser
Two weeks after a Shenango officer was killed during an attempted traffic stop, another fleeing driver rammed another township cruiser. A Scott Township man smashed into a cruiser early Friday while allegedly fleeing police.
-
Police: texting led to fatal accident
Police claim a woman’s texting on a cell phone contributed to a fatal accident earlier this month in Hickory Township. Laura E. Gargiulo, 42, of 2662 State Route 956, Volant, faces homicide by vehicle and other charges in connection with the May 7 death of Daniel E. Gallatin of Scott Township.
- More Police Reports Headlines
-
Cleaners cause fire in vacant Halco unit
