Oil City Woman with Warrants Accused of Resisting Arrest to Be Sentenced Tomorrow

VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) – Sentencing is set for Tuesday morning for an Oil City woman with warrants who reportedly resisted arrest in Sugarcreek Borough in August.

(Photo by Gavin Fish)

According to court documents, 42-year-old Wendi Lee Copley, of Oil City, will be sentenced on Tuesday, November 21, at 9:00 a.m. with President Judge Marie T. Veon presiding on the following charge:

– Disorderly Conduct Hazardous/Physical Offense, Misdemeanor 3

Copley pleaded guilty to the above charge on October 10, 2023, during a formal arraignment.

As a result of the negotiated guilty plea, the following charge was dismissed:

– Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforcement, Misdemeanor 2

According to court documents, Copley is currently lodged in the Venango County Prison on $2,500.00 monetary bail.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department received a report around 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 25, of a suspicious female in the area of Front Street, near the Rural King entrance, in Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County.

Upon the officer’s arrival, a female was found sitting along Front Street near the Rural King entrance. Officers stopped to talk to the female and make sure she was okay. Upon talking with the female, officers asked her name and date of birth which she gave freely, the complaint states.

The female was identified as Wendi Copley. An officer ran her information through Venango County 9-1-1 which reported that she had warrants for her arrest. Copley was advised that she had warrants, and she stated she would get them taken care of through Walmart Pay. Copley then started to walk away from the officers and was advised that she was not free to go. Copley complied and walked back to where the officers were standing, the complaint indicates.

She was still upset and stated she had a friend who would pay her fines for her. Copley was then advised that Agent Gorman would be on his way to speak to her. Copley “didn’t say much after that” and sat down on the ground, the complaint notes.

Agent Gorman arrived shortly after and had the warrants. Agent Gorman then advised Copley that he had been trying to find her and even went to her relative’s place to see if she was there. Agent Gorman stated Copley was going to be placed under arrest. After hearing that, Copley became very upset, the complaint states.

Copley was told by officers to put her purse on the ground and to place her hands behind her back. Copley did not listen and started walking away. She was advised by officers two to three more times to put her bag on the ground and to place her hands behind her back and that she was under arrest, the complaint indicates.

Copley still did not comply with officer commands and began screaming obscene language and stating she wasn’t going to jail. Copley was then pepper sprayed, the complaint notes.

After being pepper sprayed, Copley sat on the ground and placed her hands behind her back. She was then placed in the back of a patrol vehicle and transported back to the station. Once back at the station, Copley was decontaminated and allowed some time to wash the pepper spray off. All this was done without further incident, the complaint states.

Agent Gorman then placed Copley in the back of his vehicle to transport her to the Venango County Prison.

Copley was arraigned at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, August 28, in front of Judge Kirtland.

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