Paul Peirce stories, Page 42
Police: Somerset man severely beaten, subjected to Russian roulette at ‘house party’
Pennsylvania State Police say a 21-year-old Somerset County man was duped into attending a “house party,” where he was severely beaten and subjected to “Russian roulette.” Charles D. Sleasman, 22, of Plum and Eric Flamm, 24, of Somerset were arraigned on assault charges after allegedly tying the man’s hands and...
Hempfield woman accused of throwing coffee on trooper charged with tossing urine at guard
A Hempfield woman awaiting trial on charges that she threw a cup of hot coffee on a state trooper in January is now accused of throwing urine at a jail guard. Westmoreland County detectives charged Sonya R. Connors, 52, with aggravated harassment by a prisoner before Hempfield District Judge Mark...
Pennsylvania State Police: coronavirus results in huge drop in crashes, crime
The coronavirus pandemic is taking a bite out of crime and traffic crashes throughout the commonwealth, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Data from state police from before the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the state early last month was compared to arrest and incident data from last week....
Greensburg man charged with choking, beating woman
A Greensburg man is in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond after allegedly beating and choking a woman during an argument and assaulting her adult son. City police arrested Franz Nute Wade, 57, early Thursday outside the victim’s residence on Jefferson Street. He is charged with strangulation and multiple counts...
Fire marshal: Cause of abandoned house fire in Jeannette ruled undetermined
The state police fire marshal in Greensburg was unable to determine an exact cause of a fire Friday night in Jeannette that damaged the second floor of an abandoned house. State police fire marshal Trooper Seth Helman said anyone with information about the blaze at 509 Lavelle St. is asked...
Cops: Latrobe man accused of throwing rocks at police
A Latrobe man is accused of throwing rocks at city police as they investigated an assault and loitering complaint this month. Police charged Glenn D. Jones Jr., 21, with propulsion of missiles on a roadway, harassment, loitering and prowling, possession of marijuana, public drunkenness and simple assault. The victim, who...
North Huntingdon man claiming to have coronavirus accused of coughing, spitting on troopers
A North Huntingdon man charged with burglary allegedly fought, coughed and spit on two state troopers, claiming he had coronavirus. Joseph R. Good Jr., 35, of Westmoreland City, was jailed Tuesday on multiple other criminal charges including aggravated assault and risking a catastrophe. State police charged Good with burglary, criminal...
Ligonier Valley Police warn of potential telephone solicitation scam
Ligonier Valley Police warned area residents Tuesday of a possible phone scam in the form of a bogus charitable solicitation. Police reported several area residents were solicited recently for donations to an area firefighter’s association that is believed to be a scam. “Ligonier Fire Companies and police never call you...
Mt. Pleasant Food Pantry clients line up 1 hour early for distributionVideo
Mt. Pleasant Food Pantry coordinator Marie Ochaba wasn’t sure how clients would react to two major changes in the monthly food distribution program Tuesday. First, the scheduled food giveaway at Mt. Pleasant Church of God was held a week early due to a scheduling conflict. Second, the Westmoreland County Food...
Pa. State Police cancel all youth summer programs
Pennsylvania State Police said Monday all of its upcoming youth camps throughout the spring and summer are cancelled statewide as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “Camp Cadet, the Commissioner’s Honor Camp, and Sunny Day Camp have deep roots in our department and are a source of pride for...
Cops: 3 Georgia residents arrested in $9,500 iPhone theft scheme
An alleged scheme by three Georgia residents to use a fraudulent credit account to acquire $9,500 worth of new iPhones at the Sam’s Club in Hempfield backfired Friday. Joel E. Teteh, 25, Chantel B. Kennedy, 29, and John O. Nur, 33, all of the Atlanta area, were arrested by state...
Police: West Newton man arrested after domestic argument in car that went on for 40 miles
A West Newton man was arrested after a woman reported she was dragged by his car and injured Thursday during a domestic argument that went on for 40 miles. Cornell J.T. Dirico, 26, was arrested by Rostraver Police outside his residence in the 200 block of West Main Street at...
Cops: Man charged with assault for intentionally coughing on workers in Unity medical office
A man accused of intentionally coughing on two medical staffers at an outpatient care center in Unity this month was charged with reckless endangerment and simple assault , state police said. Robert M. Williams, 53, of Cherry Tree, Indiana County, was also charged with disorderly conduct, harassment and reckless endangerment...
Fayette County dairy farmer helps arrange 4,860-gallon milk delivery to needy
Fayette County dairy farmer Louie Diamond knew a lot of area families would be short on money during the coronavirus pandemic and with children home from school wanting milk, he decided to lend a helping hand. This week, the Masontown resident teamed with the American Dairy Association North East and...
Cops: 3 SCI-Somerset inmates to be charged with assaulting guards
Three inmates at SCI-Somerset will be charged with assault after allegedly throwing feces at corrections officers in the state prison’s restricted housing unit earlier this month, state police said. The first of two alleged incidents happened on April 6 in the Somerset Township facility when two corrections officers were walking...
Fayette, Westmoreland residents support dairy farmer struggling through coronavirus pandemicVideo
Ben Brown said he was nervous Tuesday morning when he answered the telephone call from his wife, Mary Beth, as he was busy in the barn during a 24-hour shift pasteurizing milk on the family’s dairy farm in Fayette County. “The farm store wasn’t supposed to open for another hour...
Missing Fayette County woman discovered safe, troopers say
A Fayette County woman missing since last week was found safe, according to Pennsylvania State Police in Uniontown. Karissa Nicola, 30, was reported missing after she didn’t return from a walk along East Main Street in New Salem on Friday, police said. Troopers said public tips aided authorities in locating...
North Huntingdon woman accused of intentionally coughing on McDonald’s worker
A 47-year-old North Huntingdon woman who allegedly coughed on a McDonald’s worker and told the person “I hope you get covid-19” has been charged with assault, state police said. Sharon K. Powell is charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, reckless endangerment and simple assault in connection with the alleged incident at...
Cops: Man jailed after assaulting girlfriend twice in Youngwood apartment
A 32-year-old man was ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $10,000 bond on charges of harassing and physically assaulting a Youngwood woman twice in seven hours Sunday and early Monday, state police said. Nicholas A. Cole of Latrobe was arrested on multiple criminal charges of harassment and simple...
‘Drive-thru’ funeral visitation to be held in Scottdale for local pastor
Despite being stricken by cancer, the Rev. Kimberly M. King stood in the parking lot of Owensdale United Methodist Church last Sunday passing out palms to members of two congregations in Fayette and Westmoreland counties where she preached for more than a decade. “Kim felt so strong about the Christian...
U.S. Customs in Pittsburgh seizes counterfeit items potentially worth $200K
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers recently seized multiple “Express Delivery” parcels headed for Western Pennsylvania destinations, including Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, containing counterfeit brand name merchandise that would have fetched more than $200,000 on the market if authentic. The largest seizure was March 25 when officers confiscated a...
Pennsylvania officials: Enjoy the outdoors, but stay close to home
Try your luck catching a trout, but do it close to home. That was the message Thursday from state officials, who reminded residents that, no matter what outdoor recreation or exercise you choose, keep your distance from others. “People should recreate close to home. There’s a high interest right now...
Mt. Pleasant Food Pantry distribution scheduled April 21
The Mt. Pleasant Food Pantry will distribute food beginning at 9:30 a.m. April 21 at the Mt. Pleasant Church of God, located at 936 West Main St. Pantry coordinator Marie Ochaba reminds participants that, per Westmoreland County Food Bank directive, the food box distribution will be drive-thru only. She said...
Cops: Teen suspect arrested in robbery, shooting in Derry Township
State police have arrested a third suspect in connection with the shooting Sunday of a Derry Township man during a bungled drug deal and robbery. Brandon E. “Lil-Drizzy” Thomas, 17, of Scottdale, was arraigned Tuesday in county night court on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, assault with a deadly...
No injuries reported in South Huntingdon fire that extensively damaged homeVideo
No injuries were reported in a fire that extensively damaged a South Huntingdon Township home Wednesday. The blaze was reported at 11 a.m. along the 200 block of Fitz Henry Road. Multiple fire department units from Westmoreland and Fayette counties responded. No further information was available from Turkeytown Volunteer Fire...
