Paul Peirce stories, Page 43
New child porn charges added against North Huntingdon man accused of child rape
A North Huntingdon man arrested last October on multiple charges of raping and sexually abusing a girl was arrested again Monday on 26 new child pornography-related charges. John W. Wilbanks, 39, was arraigned before District Judge Joseph DeMarchis on multiple counts of child pornography, criminal use of a communication facility,...
Cops: Derry Township man charged with indecent exposure, scuffling with troopers
A Derry Township man accused of exposing himself to a girl in an apartment complex was arrested Saturday after, police say, he scuffled with state troopers. Police were called to the Scott Court apartment complex about 8:30 p.m. after receiving complaints that Brian A. Hoffman, 33, was exposing himself to...
Police: 2 arrested, teen wanted in Derry Township shooting during bungled drug deal
A 20-year-old man was shot and seriously injured Sunday in a bungled drug deal and robbery outside a Derry Township home, state police said. State police at Kiski arrested Michael E. Sawyer, 28, of Salem and Lorraine Painter, 22, of Greensburg in connection with the shooting and robbery that occurred...
Westmoreland County groups seek coronavirus protective gear
The Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety has teamed with three nonprofit business groups in the county to assist in gathering personal protective equipment for area health care workers and first responders during the covid-19 pandemic. “Resources for this crisis are scarce worldwide, and we are focusing our efforts on...
Members of the 911th Airlift Wing headed to New York City to assist in covid-19 response
About 10 members of the 911th Airlift Wing with medical experience were mobilized Sunday from the U.S. Air Force Reserve Unit adjacent to Pittsburgh International Airport to support covid-19 efforts in New York City, the wing’s commander Col. John F. Robinson said. The airmen left the Moon Township base Sunday...
Police: Man shot twice in McKees Rocks
A man was shot in the stomach and hip Saturday night in McKees Rocks, police said. Allegheny County police didn’t identify the man, but said he was shot at about 9:30 p.m. on Rosamond Street. McKees Rocks police found the man and he was taken to a hospital. County police...
4th person dies of covid-19 in Allegheny County as total cases climb to 605
Allegheny County Health department officials reported Sunday a fourth person, in his 80s, has died of covid-19. The county also reported that the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Allegheny County went up by just under 10% between Saturday and Sunday as the countywide total climbed to 605....
Caregiver at Washington County senior home tests positive for coronavirus
A caregiver at an assisted living center in Washington County has tested positive for covid-19, according to the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network. On Saturday, the facility reported a personal care aide at Southminster Place, the Washington campus of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, tested positive. “The team member, who has not been at...
State police cite 2 people in Westmoreland County for ‘purposely coughing’ on workers
A worker at a fast-food restaurant in Hempfield and two staff members at a doctor’s office in Unity claim they were assaulted and harassed Saturday in separate incidents by people who purposely coughed on them, claiming to have coronavirus. State police said they will charge a 48-year-old North Huntingdon woman...
West Virginia county bans liquor sales to out-of-state residents including Pennsylvanians
Western Pennsylvanians will have to look somewhere besides one popular neighboring West Virginia county to buy their liquor. The Monongalia County Health Department issued a public health order effective noon Saturday until further notice banning the sale of liquor to anyone without a West Virginia driver’s license or state identification....
With Holy Week services canceled, North Huntingdon church holds ‘drive-thru’ offeringVideo
Circleville United Methodist Church member Gretchen Fischer shook her head as she adjusted her protective mask as she spoke with a fellow parishioner outside of the North Huntingdon church Saturday. “Ugh. Whenever I talk, my glasses keep fogging up wearing this mask,” Fischer said. Welcome to church life during the...
Allegheny County reports 3rd covid-19 death, 16% jump in confirmed coronavirus cases in one day
The Allegheny County Health Department reported Saturday that a third person in the county has died from covid-19. The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Allegheny County jumped by 16% from Friday to Saturday as the countywide total climbed to 552. County health department officials also reported a...
PennDOT announces Route 837 has reopened in West Mifflin
PennDOT has announced Route 837 in West Mifflin has reopened to traffic Friday after a landslide closed the highway March 28. The road was closed in both directions between the Boswell Oil Company in Dravosburg and the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge due to a landslide last weekend. Crews from Allison Park Contractors...
Verona man jailed in string of Fayette County convenience store robberies
An Allegheny County man is being held in the Fayette County Prison Saturday on multiple charges of committing a string of convenience store holdups in the Uniontown area late Thursday, state police said. Michael A. Priester, 34, of Verona, was arrested Friday by state police on multiple charges of robbery,...
Priest at Holy Family Parish in Latrobe tests positive for coronavirus
A Catholic priest in Latrobe tested positive for covid19 and is in quarantine, the Diocese of Greensburg announced. The Very Rev. Daniel Mahoney, pastor of Holy Family Parish at 1200 Ligonier St., tested positive for coronavirus, the diocese said it learned just after 1 p.m. Wednesday. Mahoney “is in quarantine...
Disinfectant wipes, speeding lead to heroin bust in Penn Borough
Suspected drug dealers apparently are concerned with practicing good hygiene during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Penn Borough Police report. Police Sgt. Eric Colamarino said Von Shane Carlson, 53, of Scottdale, a passenger in a pickup truck pulled over Tuesday for driving more than twice the posted 25 mph...
Landslide closure of Route 906 near Monessen will continue until Friday
A section of Route 906 between Interstate 70 in Rostraver and Monessen that was closed for landslide repairs will remain closed until Friday. The highway stretch is expected to reopen at approximately 3 p.m. Friday, according to PennDOT District 12 community relations coordinator Valerie Petersen. The road was closed 2...
State police no longer sending troopers to some calls because of coronavirus outbreak
State Police Commissioner Col. Robert Evanchick Wednesday announced a temporary change in the way troopers respond to select nonemergency incidents. Evanchick said with the goal of limiting in-person contact and mitigating the spread of covid-19 , the department has identified certain types of calls that may be resolved with limited...
Washington County woman who coughed on trooper claimed she had covid-19
A Washington County woman who coughed on a state trooper Sunday, claiming she had covid-19 as she was being arrested, was charged Tuesday with making terroristic threats and related crimes. Jessica Lee Harvey, 37, of Houston, also is charged with harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness by state police Trooper...
State police warnings to non-life-sustaining businesses surpass 100
More than 100 businesses received warnings in the first eights days since Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the closing of all non-life-sustaining operations to slow the spread of covid-19, Pennsylvania State Police reported Tuesday. On Monday, state police issued 11 warnings, bringing the total to 107 since enforcement of the order...
Youngwood man jailed after allegedly assaulting, choking girlfriend
A 34-year-old Youngwood man was arrested Saturday, accused of assaulting and choking his girlfriend during an argument. Brandon Sticca was arraigned on charges of harassment, simple assault, strangulation and unlawful restraint after the incident in his apartment on South Fourth Street. Troopers said Sticca and the 20-year-old victim got into...
Driver cited after crash into state police cruiser in Hempfield
A state trooper assisting a disabled motorist along Route 30 in Hempfield escaped serious injury Wednesday when a Jeannette motorist swerved to miss one police cruiser before slamming into a second cruiser. State police identified the driver as Brian DeFelice, 52. DeFelice suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance...
Derry Township man charged with child abuse after call to tip line
A 29-year-old Derry Township man was arrested by state police Monday on multiple criminal charges of physically assaulting an 18-month-old toddler earlier this month. Jordan Lee Ripingill was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault of a child under 6-years-old, harassment and simple assault filed by state police. Trooper Shauntai Hall...
Yukon woman charged with making false reports, misusing 911
A Yukon woman who allegedly telephoned state police 20 times Friday to report unsubstantiated allegations of child abuse against a South Huntingdon man and then attempted to break into the man’s home was arrested on criminal charges, according to court dockets. Laura L. Fronczak, 37, was charged with criminal attempt,...
Somerset state trooper, suspect injured in fall during chase
A state trooper and the suspect he was chasing were injured Saturday after falling into a 75-foot ravine in Somerset County. Trooper Justin Dorazio was injured during the foot pursuit with Christopher Eric Fisher, 45, of Rockwood, who was accused of assaulting and threatening another man with a handgun. Dorazio...
