Paul Peirce stories, Page 57
Longtime Latrobe councilman, municipal authority member dies from crash injuries
A longtime former member of Latrobe Council and the city municipal authority board died Monday from injuries related to a vehicle crash last week south of Twin Lakes Park, Allegheny County authorities reported. Rudolph A. “Rudy” Prohaska, 92, of Latrobe died at UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh. Prohaska died from...
Cops: Man had 50 bricks of heroin, loaded handgun in Hempfield traffic stop
A man pulled over for a traffic violation Tuesday while exiting the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Hempfield was arrested on drug and firearms charges after state troopers discovered 50 bricks of suspected heroin and a loaded handgun inside his car, according to court documents. Khasuante S. Thompson, 26, of Penn Hills,...
Wanted Pittsburgh felon stopped by deputies near Youngwood Park ‘N Pool
A man who was pulled over by Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies in Youngwood was ordered held without bail Tuesday after authorities discovered he was wanted on a federal warrant for possessing a large amount of fentanyl. Sheriff’s Deputy John Dixon and Sgt. Irvin Shipley were in an unmarked vehicle about...
Cops: Former EMT serving probation for 2016 sex assault accused of new rapeVideo
A former Greensburg assistant deputy fire chief and paramedic recently accepted into a probationary program for the 2016 sexual assault of a female co-worker was taken into custody Tuesday by city police for allegedly raping a mentally challenged woman. Parker A. Foster Jr., 54, is charged with rape, indecent assault...
Former employee at North Huntingdon auto parts store accused of burglary, theft
A former employee at a North Huntingdon auto parts store was arrested for burglary after a security camera caught him entering the store after hours late Saturday, according to township police. Stephen M. Wray, 40, of North Huntingdon and a former employee at Spitz Auto on Route 30, was arrested...
Penn Township man accused of entering woman’s home, taking photos of bedroom
A 53-year-old Harrison City man was arrested on multiple stalking and harassment charges after police said he entered a woman’s home and texted her photographs of her bedroom and a day later smeared dog feces on a friend’s car, according to court documents. Lawrence W. Lauer III was arraigned Monday...
State police accuse two men of sex assaults in Mt. Pleasant Twp., East Huntingdon
Two Westmoreland County men were charged Friday by state police for allegedly sexually assaulting two underage girls in separate incidents in Mt. Pleasant and East Huntingdon townships. Kenneth R. Daniels II, 39, of Mt. Pleasant was arraigned on charges of rape, aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, involuntary deviate...
Police: Pair found with unprescribed pills after Penn Township hit-and-run
Two men involved in a hit-and-run along Route 130 in Penn Township were arraigned Thursday on multiple drug possession and conspiracy charges after township police said they possessed anxiety and pain pills without a valid prescription. Steven J. Zappitelli, 30, of Phoenixville, Chester County, and Andrew M. Kocan Jr., 23,...
Nabbed Mt. Pleasant fugitive tells sheriff’s deputies he was ‘tired of running’
A Mt. Pleasant fugitive on the run since May told Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies who caught up with him this week at a South Huntingdon truck stop that he was glad to finally get caught. Joseph R. Taylor, 36, was arrested about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday by members of the sheriff’s...
Man expected to plead guilty in 1999 abduction, rape of Somerset girl
A 50-year-old Maryland man is expected to plead guilty Thursday in federal court to abducting and raping a Somerset County girl in 1999. Timothy D. Nelson Jr. of Cumberland, Md., is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Kim Gibson in Johnstown, according to the court docket. Pennsylvania State Police...
Man leaving bar in Washington County accused by police of abusing dog, DUI
A Jefferson Hills man was arrested by police in Washington County on Friday after witnesses reported they saw him retrieve a cocker spaniel that jumped out of his pickup by grabbing its neck and “throwing it back into the bed” of the truck at a gas station. Robert P. Kelley...
Cops: Smithton woman accused of breaking into house and taking $20 from woman’s purse
State police Tuesday arrested a Smithton woman on multiple charges including burglary, criminal trespass, resisting arrest and theft after allegedly breaking into a home and stealing $20 out of an 81-year-old woman’s purse. Theresa L. Harris, 56, was arrested by state police in Belle Vernon on multiple criminal complaints and...
Cops: Contractor used Trafford man’s credit card for $4,500 in personal purchases
A contractor hired to complete home improvements to two rental properties owned by a Trafford man is accused by police of accepting a $1,000 down payment plus making $4,547 in unauthorized charges on a credit account without making any repairs. Charles W. Murphy, 45, of Plum, was charged by Trafford...
2 injuries reported in head-on collision in UnityVideo
Two people were reported injured Tuesday in a head-on collision that closed Donohoe Road in Unity Township for more than one hour. The collision was reported at 9:18 a.m. along the 800 block of Donohoe Road, according to a Westmoreland County dispatch supervisor. The two drivers were transported by Mutual...
Game Commission continues investigating after bear bites staffer at Nemacolin
The Pennsylvania Game Commission continued its investigation Monday into a Nemacolin Woodlands Resort employee being bitten by a Himalayan Bear over the weekend during a “Safari Tour.” The agency’s Southwestern Pennsylvania office near Ligonier confirmed a game commission officer has been assigned the case. Attempts to reach the officer for...
Electrical problem may have sparked Cook Township house fire
Officials believe an electrical problem may have sparked a fire that damaged a Cook Township home Monday. Chestnut Ridge Assistant Fire Chief Josh Umbaugh said a utility company was working on phone and internet service at the home on Hoods Mill Road, near Stahlstown, when the call to 911 was...
Police: Mt. Pleasant motorcyclist led trooper on chase after fleeing traffic stop
State police over the weekend arrested a motorcyclist on DUI and other charges after another motorist complained about him driving erratically late Saturday in Mt. Pleasant Township. Casey M. Gardner, 33, of Mt. Pleasant, was arraigned before Senior District Judge Roger Eckels and ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison...
Unity man arrested in alleged sexual assault of 13-year-old girl
An 18-year-old Unity man was arrested Friday after he was accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl. Micah J. Romanelli was charged by state police in Greensburg with statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors. He was arraigned before District Judge Chris Flanigan and...
Motorcyclist injured in South Huntingdon crash, dispatcher says
A motorcyclist was reportedly airlifted by medical helicopter to a hospital Friday after crashing in South Huntingdon Township, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatch supervisor. The dispatcher said the crash occurred about 1:10 p.m. along Mt. Pleasant Road. State police were investigating. No further details were immediately available....
Woman charged in connection with stabbing in Murrysville
A woman was arrested early Friday after being accused of stabbing a Murrysville man during an argument inside his home. Shalonda White, 43, who lists addresses in Murrysville and Homestead in court records, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault and simple assault in connection with an incident that occurred...
Greensburg man accused of setting fire in woman’s apartment
Greensburg Police have an arrest warrant for a 40-year-old man acccused of intentionally lighting a pair of jeans on fire inside woman’s closet after an argument early Dec. 2. In addition to arson, Timothy J. Rosenberry of Greensburg is charged with reckless endangerment, criminal attempt and risking a catastrophe. Police...
Jeannette woman accused of assaulting boy during argument over cellphone
A Jeannette woman was arrested Wednesday after she allegedly assaulted a boy under 12 years old during an argument over a cellphone, city police said. Nicole L. Gogolsky, 39, was charged with simple assault, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespass. She was arraigned before District...
Sewickley Township officials condemn home due to ‘terrible living conditions’
Sewickley Township officials say a home on Fifth Street has been condemned due to “terrible living conditions,” said supervisor Brian Merdian. “We’ve been getting numerous complaints about the condition of the entire property particularly about garbage and trash mounting, odor, and animals roaming there for a few years,” Merdian said....
Bolivar man wanted for Indiana hotel shooting in custody; mom also arrested
While a Bolivar man was surrendering Wednesday in Indiana County in connection with a July 1 shooting at a hotel, state troopers 22 miles away in his hometown were arresting his mother for allegedly assisting in his purported drug-selling operation. State police in Indiana announced David Lee McGinnis, 26, of...
Woman dies of injuries after being struck by train in Sutersville
A 28-year-old woman who was struck by a CSX train in Westmoreland County Tuesday has died of her injuries, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office. Crystal Dahlstrom of Aliquippa died Tuesday of her injuries at Jefferson Hospital in Jefferson Hills after being hit by a train in Sutersville,...
