Paul Peirce stories, Page 23
West Newton man accused of assaulting, restraining ex-girlfriend
A 57-year-old West Newton man was arrested Friday on accusations of assaulting and choking his ex-girlfriend and burning her arm with cigarettes while holding her against her will, according to court documents. Fred R. Gambrill was arraigned on multiple charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, strangulation and unlawful restraint filed...
Search for possible pipe bomb at Youngwood Shop ‘n Save turns up empty
A man carrying a firearm was taken into custody and a bomb squad was called to investigate after the Youngwood Shop ‘n Save and neighboring businesses were evacuated Friday. Crews responded to the Youngwood Commons shopping plaza around 10:30 a.m., according to Youngwood Fire Chief Lloyd Crago. State troopers detained...
Adelphoi Village resident charged as adult by police after assault at Unity home
A 17-year-old resident at an Adelphoi Village home in Unity was charged by state police as an adult in connection with an assault that sent another youth to an area hospital Wednesday. Giovanni Payne, a resident at the Sweeney House on Mission Road, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault,...
Mt. Pleasant Township man accused of shooting windows, standoff with police
A 41-year-old Mt. Pleasant Township man who barricaded himself in his home Wednesday after shooting out windows in his mother’s residence next door was ordered held in the county prison on $50,000 bond. Keith A. Yasher, of Bridgeport Road, was arraigned on charges of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, reckless endangering...
Irwin fire chief calls firefighter’s arrest on arson charges ‘beyond disheartening’
Irwin fire Chief Justin Mochar said he told North Huntingdon police about firefighter Shawn Mann’s possible involvement in a suspicious April 27 blaze. Mann, 25, of North Huntingdon was arraigned on charges of arson, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment filed by township police in connection with the 11:16 p.m. fire...
5 Republicans vie for 4 council seats in Trafford primary
When Republican voters in Trafford head to the polls Tuesday for the primary election, they will find a slate of five hopefuls seeking four open seats on borough council. Incumbent Zack Cole is seeking reelection. He will be joined on the ballot by newcomers Justin L. Batzel, Brian M. Lindbloom,...
North Huntingdon man accused of smuggling 18 heroin stamp bags in his buttocks
A 41-year-old North Huntingdon man was charged by detectives Wednesday after they claim he attempted to smuggle heroin into the county prison by hiding 18 stamp bags in his buttocks. Jeremiah B. Reynolds of Larimer was charged by county Detective James Williams this week with illegal possession of a controlled...
North Huntingdon police accuse Irwin firefighter of setting vacant mobile home fire
An Irwin firefighter is charged with arson after police say he sent a Snapchat message to some fellow firemen alerting them to be ready for a call moments before an abandoned mobile home was set ablaze April 27. Shawn R. Mann, 25, of North Huntingdon was arraigned on charges of...
Philadelphia man jailed without bond after North Huntingdon drug arrest
A Philadelphia man who was arrested after police seized two bricks of suspected heroin in a North Huntingdon drug sting was denied bond Tuesday when he could not provide officials with a verifiable address, according to court records. District Judge Wayne Gongaware also noted that Rysheid M. “Cheese” Baldwin, 39,...
Friends of Flight 93 announces heroism award to mark 20th anniversary of 9/11Video
To promote the legacy of the crew and passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Somerset County fighting terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, the national memorial support organization Monday announced a heroism award to mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Donna Gibson, president of the Friends...
Man jailed in fatal overdose case accused of new drug charges following New Stanton arrest
A 48-year-old man being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond in connection with a fatal overdose of a North Huntingdon woman was charged with additional drug-related complaints stemming from his arrest in New Stanton,according to court documents. Jason A. Lewis, 48, of Boston, was arrested May 3 by...
Laughlintown man earns local chapter of Trout Unlimited’s highest award
When Monty Murty returned to Westmoreland County after retiring from careers in the Army and as a business consultant in Washington, D.C., he rekindled his love of trout fishing and became more active in the local Trout Unlimited chapter. “In particular, I love fly-fishing,” said Murty, now 76. “I began...
Westmoreland County Prison inmate accused of trying to escape from Excela hospital
A Westmoreland County Prison inmate awaiting multiple hearings for illegal possession of a firearm, theft and drug-related charges is accused of trying to escape from custody. County Detective James Williams charged Brandon Zepeda, 27, of Greensburg with escape after he allegedly attempted to run out of the emergency room at...
Debt-free: 30 years of saving pays for Loyalhanna Township’s new $1 million garageVideo
Frugality was the word of the day Thursday in tiny Loyalhanna Township in northern Westmoreland County. Supervisors of the township, with a population of about 2,300 people, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on a new, five-bay public works garage that cost just more than $1 million. But the cost wasn’t covered...
Johnstown man accused of sending sexually explicit photographs to Derry Township girl
A Cambria County man was arrested Wednesday on charges of exchanging sexually explicit photographs with a juvenile girl in Derry Township, according to state police. Colt T. Bopp, 22, of Johnstown, was arraigned on charges of corruption of a minor, criminal use of a communication facility, knowingly possessing sexual photographs...
Kecksburg UFO Festival remains grounded in 2021, despite plan to lift pandemic restrictions
The Kecksburg UFO Festival, usually held annually in July, has been canceled this year, even though most of Pennsylvania’s covid-19 mitigation restrictions will be lifted May 31. “We had to cancel. We needed more time to line up vendors. … There were just too many questions,” said Ron Struble, a...
West Newton police, county detectives probe shooting
An area man was seriously injured when he was shot in the face during a confrontation early Tuesday at a home in West Newton, according to borough police and Westmoreland County detectives. The shooting occurred at a residence off of North 2nd Street just after midnight, according to police Chief...
Report of ‘suspicious’ person outside Hempfield casino leads to stolen car, firearm charges, troopers say
A report of a suspicious person sitting in a vehicle just outside of Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield early Tuesday resulted in the arrest of a Jeannette man for illegal possession of a loaded firearm and the recovery of a stolen vehicle, state police said. Jamar Abdu McIntosh, 43, was...
Cash 5 ticket worth $200K sold at Hempfield store
A jackpot-winning Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 ticket was sold Monday at Rick’s Tobacco Outlet along Route 30 in Hempfield, state lottery officials said. The winning ticket, sold along with a Quick Cash ticket, was for Monday’s drawing and matched all five balls drawn, 3-7-22-29-36. The winner won $200,000 less withholding,...
Brother of North Huntingdon overdose victim charged in her death
The brother of a overdose victim in North Huntingdon was one of two men arrested Monday on charges of helping his sister buy a dose of heroin-fentanyl that killed her Jan. 12, according to court documents. Forrest G. Piper Jr., 49, of West Newton, the brother of Iona J. Runkle,...
Man, woman arrested after troopers report finding suspected meth in Unity traffic stop
A traffic stop near Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity resulted in the arrest of a Mt. Pleasant Township couple on drug trafficking charges after troopers seized three bags of suspected methamphetamine concealed inside the car, according to court records. Dorothy N. Sherwood, 38, and Charles G. West, 31, were...
Jeannette woman charged with harassing witness after hearing at courthouse
Westmoreland County Park Police, who quelled a confrontation in a county courthouse hallway this week, charged one of the participants with retaliation against a witness and harassment. Marissa A. McGowan, 32, of Jeannette, was charged Friday in connection with the disturbance on the second floor of the courthouse in Greensburg...
3 Michigan residents arrested after package of suspected heroin intercepted in Hempfield
Westmoreland County detectives and state troopers used a tip from an informant to intercept a tennis ball-size package of raw heroin Thursday as it was delivered to Hempfield from Michigan, according to court documents. Three residents from Eastpoint, Mich. — Percy Harper, 33, Jessica R. Walilko and Carlos E. Wade,...
Greensburg man charged with raping toddler
A Greensburg man was arrested by state troopers Thursday, charged with raping a toddler two years ago, according to court documents. James A. Swanson, 44, was charged with aggravated indecent assault of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and rape of a child. State police say the assaults occurred on...
East Huntingdon contractor accused of taking $41K in deposits for home remodeling work never started
An East Huntingdon contractor is charged with three counts of home improvement fraud, accused of accepting more than $41,000 in down payments for three remodeling jobs he never started, according to court documents. Jason Ray Pirl, 40, who does business as Proline Painting, was arraigned on three felony charges filed...
