The fire started on the first floor of the two-story building, Youngsville Volunteer Fire Chief Vern Edmisten said.

The call came in around 7:15 p.m. By 9:30 p.m., the fire was largely under control though crews were on scene until nearly 1:15 a.m. and were dispatched back to the scene shortly after 7:30 a.m. Monday morning.

“It (the fire) worked its way through the whole building,” Edmisten added. “Then the building collapsed.”

The chief said that an excavator had to be used to pull the building away, so the fire could be extinguished. On Monday morning, the chief noted, the fire rekindled in a small corner by the street, so the excavator had to be brought back to the scene to tear down the rest of the building.

Photo provided to the Times Observer A Warren County Drug Task Force operation last week resulted in a total of 10 arrests. Search warrants were executed in the Sugar Grove area as well as in the City of Warren.

“It (the building) was a total loss,” Edmisten said.

Many agencies responded including Youngsville, Sugar Grove, Starbrick, Garland, Spring Creek and Pleasant as well as the county’s Department of Public Safety. The Red Cross, Pennsylvania State Police and Youngsville Police were on scene, as well.

Garland and Youngsville were the agencies that responded back to the scene when the fire rekindled.

Borough manager Wendy Wilcox said the business was part of the revitalization of the downtown.

“It’s just unfortunate for Youngsville. It was a booming business. They were growing. They just opened their dining room. We’re just sad to see that business go,” she said.

Photo courtesy of Donnie Rosie This is an aerial photo from a drone flown over the scene of the commercial fire in Youngsville Sunday night.

MAN CHARGED WITH

POSSESSING STOLEN

FIREARMS IN CONNECTION WITH SHOOTING DEATH

A nearly four-month investigation into the gunshot death of a juvenile shortly after midnight on New Years Day has resulted in charges against a North Warren man last spring.

Zachary Wells, 20, 11 Vine St., was charged by Conewango Township police on Thursday with two counts of receiving stolen property and a count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Conewango Township police were dispatched shortly after midnight on Jan. 1 to 11 Vine St. for a report of a shooting at that address.

Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Flames kept popping up in pockets for a couple hours after the outbreak of Sunday’s fire in Youngsville.

A woman answered the door and allegedly told police that a 17-year-old male “had shot himself in an upstair(s) bedroom,” per the affidavit of probable cause. Police detail that they went upstairs and observed Wells “exiting his bedroom, yelling repeatedly ‘No, don’t come up.'”

The affidavit states that Wells was detained before police observed the juvenile, who was “laying on (Wells) bed covered in blood.”

Officers observed blood on the bed and a handgun under the juvenile’s right arm.

“It was later learned,” the affidavit states, “that (the juvenile) died from a single gunshot wound to the head.”

In an affidavit filed in July, Wells allegedly acknowledged during that July interview that he had been drinking when the incident occurred and told law enforcement that the situation was a “terrible accident.” Wells reportedly told investigators that he had the handgun in his possession “and was sitting in the corner of the bedroom when the gun discharged.”

Wells ended up pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in November.

RUSSELL MAN CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE IN WAKE OF MONDAY SHOOTING

A dispute in late May resulted in criminal homicide charges against a Russell man. Mark E. Saullo, 62, 322 Gouldtown Road, was charged in the shooting death of a Russell man. A witness told police that he was outside the building and heard a gunshot. A Conewango Township police officer took Saullo into custody at 2 S. Main St. He was interviewed by state police at the Starbrick barracks at about 2 a.m. The affidavit alleges that Saullo told police that he had a physical and verbal altercation with Keith R. Haskins, 55, of Russell where “both had gone their separate ways and everything was fine afterwards.”

Saullo allegedly told police that he wrote a letter that said Haskins was no longer allowed on his property. It appears that letter never made it to Haskins as Saullo then told police that he was called and told that Haskins was “on his way to the shop and he was made.” Saullo claimed that Haskins came into the shop and demanded title to a vehicle and a verbal altercation ensued.

“Saullo related that he followed Haskins into the office where they continued to argue,” the affidavit states.

Once in the office, the affidavit states that the men “continued to argue and began pushing one another.”

Saullo allegedly told police that Haskins pushed him on the neck and that Saullo allegedly told Haskins that he was going to shoot him, walking over to his desk and retrieving a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

“Saullo advised that Haskins allegedly struck him with the back of his hand and that is when Saullo shot Haskins one time,” the affidavit states. “Saullo related he then unloaded the gun, took the magazine out and separated the items.”

Troopers say that Saullo told them he did not render aid to Haskins.

“Haskins subsequently died from the gun shot fired by Saullo,” the affidavit alleges.

WARREN POLICE INVESTIGATE INMATE DEATH

Warren police suspected no foul play after an area man was found unresponsive in the Warren County Jail in August.

Warren County Jail Warden Rusty Barr told the Times Observer staff provided immediate aid once they found the man was in cardiac arrest.

“Staff immediately provided medical aid until the arrival of Warren City Fire Department and EmergyCare where they continued to provide medical care,” he added. “This is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Warren City Police Department.”

He added that police are investigating the incident and awaiting pathology reports.

“The inmate was housed in an isolation cell,” Sproveri said, “and no foul play is suspected.”

DRUG TASK FORCE OPERATION MAKES 10 ARRESTS

A May raid by the Warren County Drug Task Force resulted in a total of 10 arrests in the wake of multiple search warrants.

Warren County Chief County Detective Tom Kibbey said the Task Force was assisted by local law enforcement and county probation, Homeland Security and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

The warrant was served in the Sugar Grove area and Kibbey said the search resulted “in the arrest of four known subjects related to controlled substances and weapons offenses.”

A second warrant was executed in the City of Warren in the wake of that search.

Kibbey said that search resulted “in the arrest of two known subjects who have been alleged to have been distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl. During the second search warrant, controlled substances were recovered from the residence.”

After both search warrants were issued, Kibbey explained that “officers then were able to place several other subjects in the Warren County area into custody for active warrants relating to failure to respond to criminal charges, failure to pay warrants, criminal warrants for possession and possession with intent to distribute, and probation warrants.”