Brian C. Rittmeyer stories
Hair braids give away wanted man hiding in Pittsburgh attic, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office says
A man’s hair braids lead to Allegheny County Sheriff detectives finding him hiding in an attic Friday morning, the sheriff’s office said Saturday. According to the sheriff’s office, Davon James, 32, had been a fugitive for the past month after probation violation warrants were issued on two different cases involving...
1 woman shot, another stabbed in Brighton Heights, police say
One woman was shot and another was stabbed in an altercation in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood Saturday, according to Pittsburgh police. Police said officers responded just before 2 p.m. to an alert of three shots being fired in the 1500 block of Antrim Street. While heading there, responding officers were...
Tri-County Trout Club’s annual show, market helps anglers prepare for season ahead
With the first day of spring about two months away, and the start of the regular trout season about two weeks after that, the doldrums of winter is a perfect time for fishermen and other outdoorsmen to gear up for warmer days. Mark Hanna of Murrysville said he came to...
Millvale man accused of firing shotgun, threatening to kill woman with school bus nearby
An incident in Millvale where a man pointed a shotgun at a woman and fired a round into the air in the middle of a weekday afternoon could have turned out much worse if not for a rapid police response, borough police Chief Tim Komoroski said. Komoroski said the accused...
Shaler-area municipalities reorganize following November election
Municipalities in the Shaler Journal’s coverage area reorganized in January following November’s general election. That included reelected and newly elected officials taking their offices, the selection of leadership and setting regular meeting dates for the year. Etna Seven officials, six elected and one appointed, have taken office on Etna Council....
‘Irritated’ Etna resident Dave Becki celebrated as dedicated public servant after 36 years as councilman
Mary Ellen Ramage knew Dave Becki as an Etna resident who was “quite irritated” when he was first elected to the borough’s council in 1989. And Becki was indeed irritated after the home he moved to in 1984 was flooded in 1986 and almost flooded a second time a year...
Richland play cafe owner looks to create place where children, parents can make memories together
After her childhood plan of becoming a school teacher didn’t turn out the way she thought it would, Ashley Domenick is pursuing a new dream of opening a play cafe. The Busy Berry Play Cafe is scheduled to open Jan. 19 at the Richland Mall in Richland, near Emiliano’s Mexican...
‘Large-scale’ illegal marijuana sales operation found at 2 vape shops on McKnight Road in Ross, police say
Authorities uncovered a large-scale illegal marijuana sales operation at two vape shops in Ross, Allegheny County Police said. The county police narcotics unit, working with Ross police, executed search warrants Friday, Jan. 9, at Smoke World and Vape in the 4800 block of McKnight Road and at Powerful Smoke in...
From just getting started to final details, Greensburg wedding expo helps couples plan their big day
Lindsay Gozdick of Latrobe says her fiance is fine with her working on all the details of their October wedding. “He’s like, ‘figure it out’ — and he’ll like what I pick,” she said. “He would rather be in the garage with his truck.” Gozdick was among future brides —...
Ross welcomes 2 new commissioners, names interim manager
A third of the nine-member Ross Board of Commissioners is now women, and the township has its first Black commissioner. Haley Warden-Rodgers and Dwayne Lee Allen joined the board in January after winning seats in November’s election, which also saw Ward 2 Commissioner Chris Eyster and Ward 8 Commissioner Denise...
Man suffers gunshot wound to leg in Duquesne
A man was in stable condition after being shot in Duquesne Saturday afternoon, Allegheny County Police said. The shooting in the 100 block of Erwin Street was reported to 911 shortly before 3 p.m. According to county police, first responders found the man had been shot in a leg. He...
Police have no suspects in shooting of man in Wilkinsburg
A man was in critical but stable condition after being shot in Wilkinsburg Saturday night, Allegheny County Police said. The shooting in the 1900 block of Remington Drive was reported to 911 shortly after 11:30 p.m. The man was taken to a nearby hospital, county police said. Police said they...
‘ICE Out’ protests scheduled for Pittsburgh, Greensburg, elsewhere
Protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are planned in Pittsburgh, Greensburg and elsewhere Sunday. Two of the “ICE Out for Good” gatherings are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at Three Rivers Heritage Park by the Hot Metal Bridge on Pittsburgh’s South Side and 3:30 p.m. near the Westmoreland...
Fayette County man accused of beating, threatening to kill woman during 4 days of captivity
State police have accused a Fayette County man of holding a woman captive for four days, during which they say he punched, strangled and threatened to kill her. In a release issued Friday, state police said Kevin Patrick Fields, 33, of Redstone Township was arrested Dec. 16. In court records,...
1 of 2 $500,000 jackpot-winning Pa. lottery tickets sold at McCandless pharmacy
Someone has won big in McCandless, the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Jan. 7. A $500,000 jackpot-winning Cash 5 with Quick Cash ticket from the Jan. 6 drawing was sold at Adzema Pharmacy along Perry Highway. It was one of two tickets sold, winning a combined $1 million, that matched all five...
Millvale says it will have to shut down all services if borough isn’t allowed to borrow $2 million
Millvale officials say borough government will be forced to shut down unless a court allows it to borrow up to $2 million. In an emergency petition filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, the borough says a 58% property tax increase council approved Dec. 30 will not give it enough...
Shaler police charge pair of 18-year-old men with stealing items from unlocked vehicles
Two 18-year-old men from Shaler are accused of stealing belongings from unlocked vehicles in the township early Sunday morning. Shaler police charged Samuel Joseph Ruano and Jacob Thomas Klugh. In court filings, Shaler police said they went to the 200 block of Rosebriar Drive shortly before 3 a.m. for a...
Pittsburgh residents gather to protest ‘insanity’ of U.S. attack on Venezuela, plans to run South American nation
An estimated 200 people gathered on short notice in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood Saturday afternoon to protest the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the apprehension of its leader, Nicolas Maduro. Protest organizer June Wearden, a resident of Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, said she was...
Ross posthumously honors business owner Bobby Colosimo for generosity to community
Ross resident and business owner Bobby Colosimo was a “workaholic,” says his wife, Robin. But he didn’t work just for himself. He started a landscape supply business, The Barn, for his son, David, and founded a real estate company, BMDS, for the benefit of his four granddaughters. “Everything that Bobby...
East Allegheny elementary student dies after being hit by car in West Mifflin
A 13-year-old East Allegheny School District student died after being hit by a car Saturday in West Mifflin. Terrel “TJ” Byars Jr., of Wilmerding, was hit in front of Speedway at 4315 Kennywood Blvd. shortly after 5 p.m. No information about the incident was immediately available from West Mifflin police....
Death of woman in Pittsburgh’s Perry North neighborhood ‘suspicious,’ police say
A woman’s death in Pittsburgh’s Perry North neighborhood is considered suspicious, police said Sunday. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the woman as Michelle Sturdivant, 44, of Pittsburgh. First responders went to the 100 block of Watson Boulevard just after 2 a.m. Sunday for reports of an unresponsive woman. According...
Ohio man dies after single-vehicle crash on I-376 in Findlay
A 70-year-old man from Ohio died after a single-vehicle crash Saturday morning on Interstate 376 in Findlay, according to Pennsylvania State Police. State police identified the man as Edward D. White, of Grove City, Ohio. The crash happened shortly before 8 a.m. near the 53.5-mile marker. According to state police,...
18-year-old accused of shooting his parents in Greene County apprehended in West Virginia
An 18-year-old Greene County man accused fatally shooting his mother and wounding his father on Friday was apprehended in West Virginia, according to Pennsylvania State Police. West Virginia State Police arrested Jarrod Noll without incident Saturday, Pennsylvania State Police said. Pennsylvania State Police said Noll had fled on foot after...
Judge blocks access to UPMC transgender care records
A federal judge in Pittsburgh cited the government’s own “inflammatory” rhetoric on gender-affirming care in blocking the Department of Justice’s effort to get patients’ personal information from UPMC. In her six-page order, Chief Judge Cathy Bissoon of the Western District of Pennsylvania cited decisions by five fellow judges in similar...
Suspect at large after attempted stabbing, vehicle theft at Tarentum gas station
A Lower Burrell man is accused of trying to stab a man at the Marathon gas station in Tarentum before stealing his minivan early Friday morning, according to police. In court records, Tarentum police say they were able to identify Robert Matthew Harmon, 35, as the accused assailant because a...
