Paul Peirce stories, Page 22
Dryridge fire department in Unity thinks out of the ‘basket’ when it comes to fundraising during pandemicVideo
Some things were borne out of the coronavirus pandemic. Take volunteer fire department fundraising as one example. Live raffle drawings for just about anything such as firearms and other merchandise including grilling equipment, porch furniture, Yeti coolers and vacations tip boards for cash. Lottery tickets and food orders are now...
Ligonier Township woman accused by police of stabbing father during argument
An 18-year-old woman was arrested Saturday by Ligonier Valley police, accused of stabbing her father twice in his left shoulder during an argument in their home. Mollie E. Fichet of Ligonier Township was arraigned Sunday on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and simple assault in connection with...
Woman arrested in stabbing in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh police arrested a woman early Sunday in connection with the stabbing of a man inside a home in Hazelwood. Police from Zone 4 responded at 12:15 a.m. for a report of an individual stabbed in the 200 block of Hazelwood Avenue, according to department of public safety. Responding officers...
PA Hero Walk in 13th year helping veterans holds event in Mt. PleasantVideo
Bad legs kept 70-year-old Vietnam War veteran Martin Majercak Jr. from taking part in the PA Hero Walk on Saturday through downtown Mt. Pleasant to Veterans Memorial Park, but he “made darn sure” he came out to VFW Post 3368 to support the organization. While most benefactors of the 13-year-old...
Man arrested after Pittsburgh SWAT called to Hazelwood apartment
A Hazelwood man was taken into custody late Friday by a Pittsburgh SWAT team after police responded to reports of a man forcing his way into a neighbor’s apartment, police said. Public safety officials said that the initial call was received at 8:15 p.m. of a report of a man...
North Huntingdon man accused in 2 homicides will stand trial for arson, attempted carjacking and firearms charges
Victor F. Steban, ordered Tuesday to stand trial for the killing of a Penn Township couple, also will be tried on charges related to what police say was the start and finish of his alleged four-day crime spree last month. Steban, 53, of North Huntingdon waived his right to preliminary...
Fight over loud music ends with New Alexandria man jailed in Indiana County, troopers say
Police say an argument over loud music in Indiana County resulted in $5,000 damage to a woman’s car and a New Alexandria man facing multiple charges. Ryan Lee Reynolds, 30, was arraigned on charges of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, harassment and simple assault after his arrest by state troopers in...
North Huntingdon police seeking information on 2-vehicle crash
North Huntingdon police are asking the public’s assistance for information on a two-vehicle crash Monday on Route 30 that sent three people to an area hospital, including one in critical condition. Chief Robert Rizzo reported the crash occurred about 12:24 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Route 30 at Norwin...
North Huntingdon man ordered to stand trial for Penn Township slayingsVideo
“I told you this would happen. I told you not to run your mouth,” Victor F. Steban allegedly said as he stood over Jacob Erdeljac, taunting the dying man. Steban, 53, had just ambushed Erdeljac, 40, and his girlfriend, Mara Casale, 27, outside the home they shared in Penn Township,...
Latrobe police accuse driver of possession of large amount of ‘raw’ fentanyl after DUI stop
A Cook Township man pulled over in Latrobe for suspicion of driving under the influence was charged with drug possession after police say they found two plastic bags containing powerful “raw fentanyl,” according to court records. Brian L. Mote, 36, of 4183 Main St. in the village of Stahlstown, is...
Turnpike officials expect Memorial Day traffic to nearly double from last year
What a difference a year makes. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission project traffic on the toll highway over the Memorial Day holiday will almost double to 2.1 million motorists compared to 2020, when travelling options were severely impacted by shutdowns and safety concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic. The agency anticipates...
North Huntingdon man charged with retaliation in ongoing neighborhood dispute
A North Huntingdon man awaiting trial on multiple complaints in an ongoing dispute with neighbors is facing more charges after police say he fired a pellet gun and damaged the homes of some of his accusers, according to court documents. Matthew D. Fox, 38, of the 13000 block of Dean...
16-year-old Jeannette boy ordered to trial as adult on charges of shooting 17-year-old
A 16-year-old Jeannette boy will stand trial as an adult on attempted homicide and related charges in connection with the shooting of a 17-year-old boy in the city in April. District Judge Joseph DeMarchis ruled there was sufficient evidence presented at the preliminary hearing Wednesday for Desean Ingram for him...
Man charged in Penn Township double homicide accused of trying to steal truck to flee
North Huntingdon police say the suspect in a May 16 double homicide in Penn Township tried to carjack a pickup truck to flee, according to court documents filed Tuesday. Victor F. Steban, 53, was arraigned on charges of vehicle theft and illegal possession of firearms in connection with his failed...
Coronavirus outbreak closes Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department until June 1
Due to a outbreak of coronavirus cases in Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert’s office, the sheriff said Tuesday the office will be closed until June 1. “It’s mostly in our clerical staff impacted,” Albert said. “It’s more than 10 people right now.” Albert said the outbreak began May 17 when...
Greensburg woman charged with arson after neighbors say she set mattress on fire
A 54-year-old Greensburg woman accused by neighbors of setting fire to a mattress just outside a three-unit apartment house late Sunday was charged by city police with arson and reckless endangerment. Gina M. Albertelli also is charged with dangerous burning, disorderly conduct, reckless burning and possessing incendiary materials after the...
Man ordered to jail on $250K bond after police standoff in Mt. Pleasant
State police said a Mt. Pleasant man told troopers he snorted cocaine and drank “five beers” prior to his arrest Monday on charges of shooting toward three municipal police officers responding to his house for a report of a home invasion, according to court records. Richard W. Teeters, 49, was...
Washington Township man accused of leading police on 115 mph chase, drug possession
A Washington Township man was jailed after police say he led them on a several-mile chase that reached 115 miles per hour. James D. Higgins, 40, was arrested in the garage of his home after the 2:27 a.m. Wednesday chase along routes 66 and 366, according to court documents filed...
Fire destroys Mt. Pleasant Township house
A Mt. Pleasant Township house was destroyed by fire late Friday night. The fire at the house at 274 Freeman Falls Road started in the garage and spread from the breezeway into the house, Kecksburg fire Chief Adam Krozel said. The fire then spread into the roof area, the chief...
Butler County authorities probing cause of fatal car explosion in Cranberry
Cranberry police and firefighters were still processing the scene of a car explosion in the parking lot of a Red Robin Restaurant on Friday night that left one person dead, according to township police. A Butler County 911 dispatcher reported multiple agencies responded after the dispatch center received multiple calls...
Somerset County man charged with DUI in 2019 Ligonier Township crash that killed bicyclist
Eighteen months after a bicyclist from Hempfield was struck and killed by a car atop Laurel Mountain summit on Route 30, Ligonier Valley police arrested the car’s driver on charges of homicide by vehicle and being under the influence of multiple prescription pills, according to court records. Adam W. Ulrich,...
More charges for Penn Township double murder suspect’s alleged shooting spree
Police say Victor F. Steban went on a shooting spree across central Westmoreland County hours before he killed two people at a Penn Township home. Steban, 53, was arraigned on new charges filed Thursday by state police, including multiple counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and shooting into occupied structures...
Hempfield woman accused of DUI, homicide by vehicle in fatal motorcycle crash on Route 66
A 33-year-old Hempfield woman is accused of being drunk when she crashed into a motorcycle last year, killing the driver. Tuesdae M. Checque was arraigned this week on multiple criminal charges, including homicide by vehicle while DUI, careless driving, driving at an unsafe speed, driving on the wrong side of...
Wife of former Pagans gang leader denies knowing Penn Township double murder suspect
The wife of Dennis “Rooster” Katona, the former national president of the Pagans Motorcycle Club, said Wednesday neither she nor her husband knows why Victor F. Steban repeatedly mentioned Rooster’s name as Steban was arraigned Tuesday in the shooting deaths of a Penn Township couple. “We don’t know Victor Steban,...
Belle Vernon area teen accused by troopers in 2020 brick-throwing incident on I-70
A 16-year-old is charged in Westmoreland County juvenile court in connection with a brick-throwing incident along Interstate 70 in North Belle Vernon last year, state police said. Trooper Brian McKee said evidence against the teen from the Belle Vernon area culminated with charges of criminal mischief, propulsion of missiles and...
