Paul Peirce stories, Page 45
‘We’re really not bad parents,’ say Unity couple accused of locking son in closetVideo
A Unity couple accused of locking their 9-year-old son inside a closet and nailing it shut so they could attend a relative’s birthday party say they love him and hope their family is soon reunited. “We want people to know that we’re really not bad parents. We love our kids,”...
Salem man accused of blackmailing teen for nude photosVideo
An 18-year-old Salem man accused of asking underage girls to send him nude photographs was arrested again Friday for allegedly blackmailing a 16-year-old girl into sending him illicit photographs and a video. Dylan J. Krupitzer, of Crabtree, declined comment as he was led from Washington Township District Judge Jason Buczak’s...
Cops: Derry woman abused toddler after smoking crack cocaine
A Derry woman is accused of physically abusing a 23-month-old toddler and smoking crack cocaine as the child sat in her lap. Crystal N. Steele, 28, was arraigned by Hempfield District Judge Tony Bompiani on charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, harassment, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless...
1st lawsuit filed in deadly Pennsylvania Turnpike tour bus crashVideo
Two brothers from New Jersey who were aboard a tour bus that crashed on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County in January, killing five people and injuring 60, filed a civil lawsuit Thursday against the bus company. Anthony Ellis, 39, and Quwanjay Ellis, 18, both of Irvington, N.J., accuse Z&D...
Greensburg bishop suspends communion wine as coronavirus, flu concerns spread
Hold the chalice. Growing concerns over the spread of flu and the coronavirus forced the Catholic Diocese of Greensburg to rethink its decision regarding restrictions at religious services such as Mass. On Thursday, Bishop Edward C. Malesic announced that he has suspended the distribution of wine during communion and will...
Indiana man accused of sexual abuse of children, indecent assault
A 36-year-old Indiana County man was charged Wednesday with 26 counts of sexual abuse of children and one count of indecent assault after state troopers say they found multiple still images and one video recording depicting child pornography. Robert Earl Rout III of Indiana was arraigned before Homer City District...
Firearms safety, gun rights seminar coming to Hempfield church
State Rep. Eric Nelson is sponsoring a firearms safety and gun rights seminar March 21 at Word of Life Church in Hempfield. Nelson (R-Hempfield) said the seminar will have multiple speakers discussing the state’s concealed carry laws and the Castle Doctrine. It will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m....
Cops: Women who stole wallet at Greensburg SeaBase failed at returning it
Two women accused of going on a spending spree last month and stealing a Greensburg man’s wallet failed in a bid for redemption, according to city police. Alexis Hudson, 23, of Ford City and Emily Jean Long, 21, of Kittanning are charged with theft, access device fraud and receiving stolen...
Son of Lower Burrell district judge, in jail on drug charges, denied unemployment
The son of a Lower Burrell district judge who is finishing a six-month jail term related to multiple drug offenses had his bid to collect unemployment compensation quashed this week by a state appellate court. A three-judge Commonwealth Court panel affirmed the state Unemployment Compensation Board of Review finding that...
Walmart workers in East Huntingdon credited with assisting police in drug arrest
Police arrested a woman and confiscated 35 bags of suspected heroin after employees at the East Huntingdon Walmart became suspicious and contacted state troopers Monday. Amanda Skyee Crosby, 26, of Bullskin, Fayette County, is in the Westmoreland County Prison on $35,000 bond on charges of delivery, distribution and possession of...
Indiana County man fired AR-15 rifle during argument with girlfriend, troopers say
A 28-year-old Indiana County man is accused of firing two shots from an AR-15 rifle during a several hour standoff with state troopers over the weekend before he surrendered, according to state police. Jacob M. Bloomberg was arraigned on charges of illegal possession of prohibited offensive weapon, reckless endangerment, terroristic...
Hempfield man jailed, accused of kicking trooper
A Hempfield man is accused of kicking and punching state troopers called to break up a fight outside a Mt. Pleasant Road home Sunday night. John P. Henigan, 26, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, harassment, resisting arrest and simple assault after troopers Robert Dietz, Troy Faulk...
Police: Youngwood man provided heroin that killed his girlfriend
A 36-year-old Youngwood man was arrested Wednesday on charges of providing the heroin that killed his girlfriend almost a year ago. Christopher P. Showalter was arraigned on charges of drug delivery resulting in death, manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of possession of a controlled substance...
Hearing delayed for veteran Westmoreland sheriff’s deputy accused of inappropriate contact with female inmatesVideo
A hearing for a former Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputy accused of persuading female inmates to expose themselves or grope him in exchange for cigarettes ended as soon as it began Friday. Michael Ferguson, attorney for the veteran deputy Daniel A. Gradischek, 32, of Unity, objected to the first witness called...
Murrysville police arrest 3 connected to thefts in Allegheny, Westmoreland counties
The arrests of three people in Murrysville this week may help solve multiple crimes in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. Murrysville police searched a Wiestertown Road home, where they seized a quantity of crystal methamphetamine, smoking pipes, digital scales, a stolen handgun and multiple other stolen items, according to court papers....
Somerset County woman ordered to pay $251K restitution for keeping dead relative’s Social Security benefits
A Somerset County woman convicted of keeping a deceased relative’s Social Security benefit payments for 21 years was sentenced this week to pay $251,000 in restitution and serve one day in jail. U.S. District Judge Kim R. Gibson also sentenced Donalee Harvey, 73, of Meyersdale, to three years of supervised...
2 Greensburg men accused in Sheetz robbery avoid hearing, will stand trialVideo
Two Greensburg men accused of robbing a Sheetz store on Jan. 30 waived to court the charges against them on Thursday. Greensburg police charged Jerome Garrett, 19, and Tywone McClain Jr., 21, in connection with the robbery. Police said four men entered the Harvey Avenue store around 6:15 p.m. when...
Suspect in Indiana County arsons arrested again, charged with intimidating witnesses; reward for information increased
A former Indiana County firefighter arrested last fall in connection with three arson fires was arrested again Wednesday along with his father on charges of intimidating witnesses in the case. State police in Indiana and the state police fire marshal’s office in Punxsutawney said charges of intimidating a witness and...
Murrysville police arrest 3 connected to thefts in Allegheny, Westmoreland counties
The arrests of three people in Murrysville this week may help solve multiple crimes in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. Murrysville police searched a Wiestertown Road home, where they seized a quantity of crystal methamphetamine, smoking pipes, digital scales, a stolen handgun and multiple other stolen items, according to court papers....
Comments sought for proposed Allegheny Tunnel Turnpike project in Somerset
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is accepting public comment through Thursday on six proposals, including one that would replace the existing Allegheny Tunnel in Somerset County with a $332 million-plus “cut” and bypass across the Allegheny Ridge. The commission and representatives from engineering consultant L.R. Kimball in Ebensburg recently held an open...
Unity couple accused of locking child in closet to attend birthday party
A 9-year-old Unity boy reported that he was locked inside a screwed-shut closet Sunday so two adults could attend a relative’s birthday party, state police reported. It wasn’t the first time, he told authorities. The Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau alerted state police after receiving a phone tip that the boy...
Jailed Westmoreland County man accused of raping Allegheny County child
A 41-year-old Sutersville man already accused of raping two Westmoreland County children was arrested last week on multiple charges of raping a 5-year-old in Allegheny County in 2011. Ronald E. Styche III was arraigned Wednesday before Coraopolis District Judge Michele Santicola on multiple charges of rape, aggravated indecent assault, endangering...
Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnel work to impact weekday traffic until summer
An 18-week maintenance project at the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Tuscarora Tunnel in Franklin County is expected to impact motorists beginning Sunday night, according to turnpike officials. The weekly tunnel closure will occur at 9 p.m. Sundays, weather permitting, and continue until noon on Fridays, said turnpike spokeswoman Roseanne Placey. The weekly...
Man accused of assaulting, threatening Mt. Pleasant man
A man accused of assaulting a 41-year-old man in his Mt. Pleasant home Monday was jailed Wednesday after he was accused of calling and threatening to harm him. Roger C. Strautmann, 30, of Greensburg. was arraigned Wednesday on two counts of intimidating a witness and single counts of simple assault,...
Cops: Man who allegedly claimed to be firefighter during burglary arrested again
A man awaiting trial for burglary and impersonating a firefighter was arrested again Wednesday in Salem Township after a break-in at a senior citizen recreation center. Charles J. Beiter, 33, was arraigned Thursday on charges of disorderly conduct, illegally trespassing, loitering, theft and possession of marijuana filed by state police...
