Paul Peirce stories, Page 61
South Greensburg bugler, 79, has played taps at military funerals since 1956Video
Trumpeter John Massari of South Greensburg can’t say for certain how many times he’s performed taps with the VFW Post 33 Honor Guard in Greensburg. But considering Massari, 79, has performed “on and off” — mostly on — at area military funerals and commemorations with the unit since 1956, when...
Penn-Trafford student cited for fleeing crash in school parking lot
A Penn-Trafford senior is accused by police with driving a car down a high school walking path, through a grass sports practice field, over a hillside and through a nearby homeowner’s yard in an attempt to flee a crash in a high school parking lot May 23. Chance A. Orr,...
Judge orders Penn Twp. man released from jail to await trial in 2016 shooting
A Penn Township man who has been in the Westmoreland County Prison for nearly three years accused of firing a rifle shot that pierced a wall and nearly hit a police officer will be released to await his July 11 trial. Common Pleas Judge Tim Krieger granted a motion filed...
Ramp from Rt. 119 North to I-70 West in Hempfield to close Monday
Motorists who use the Route 119 North ramp in Hempfield to enter Interstate 70 West will have a detour for three weeks beginning Monday, according to PennDOT. The ramp near New Stanton will be closed for repaving, according to PennDOT spokesperson Valerie Petersen. A marked detour will use routes in...
Former Youngwood worker accused of intentionally damaging street sweeper, truck
A longtime Youngwood street department worker was arrested Thursday by Westmoreland County detectives on charges he intentionally damaged a street sweeper and dump truck by moving them into waist-deep water inside the borough garage during a flood last September. Clifford A. Long, 59, was suspended last September when the criminal...
Cops: Bronx man with bricks of heroin led trooper on 100 mph chase on Route 22
A Bronx, N.Y., man who led a state trooper on a five-mile chase that reached over 100 mph along Route 22 in Salem on Wednesday was found to be transporting more than 23 bricks of heroin, state police reported. Holiday L. Vaughn, 35, was arrested just before 7 p.m. after...
Jeannette woman accused in boyfriend’s 2016 death wlll stand trial in October
The murder trial of a Jeannette woman accused in the bludgeoning death of her 19-year-old boyfriend will be held in October. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani this week ordered jury selection for Crystal Belle’s first-degree murder trial to be held Oct. 2 with the trial to start...
West Newton family thanks Westmoreland dispatcher for emergency ‘delivery’
Russ Mitchell said Wednesday that he was not looking forward to listening to 18 minutes of the “most stressful time in my life” delivering his 6-pound, 2-ounce daughter on April 27 along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Penn Township. Mitchell, of West Newton, said he was eager to meet the Westmoreland...
Hempfield man accused of beating elderly father to death ruled competent for court
A Hempfield man accused of beating his 92-year-old father to death last December before setting the house on fire has been deemed mentally competent to proceed to court on homicide and related criminal charges. Douglas F. Novak, 41, appeared in court Wednesday, his hands and legs shackled and wearing a...
Cops: Greensburg man confesses to robbing downtown Sunoco twice in March
A Crime Stoppers’ tip led police to a 29-year-old Greensburg man who admitted robbing a Sunoco convenience store-service station downtown twice in March, according court documents. Brad L. Smith, 29, was arrested Monday on two counts each of robbery and receiving stolen property in connection with the holdups that occurred...
Uniontown couple accused of robbing 80-year-old man after ATM stop
State police in Uniontown arrested a Uniontown couple in connection with a strong-arm robbery of an 80-year-old Dunbar Township man outside his home. David E. Millero, 29, and Tiffany L. Evans, 27, were arrested on multiple criminal charges in connection with the robbery and assault of John O. Welsh about...
Unity man awaiting retrial decision on rape accusation released on electronic home monitoring
A Unity man who had his conviction of raping a teenage girl overturned will be released on home electronic monitoring while waiting to see if a state appellate court will make him stand a second trial. In August, a Westmoreland County jury found Bruce J. Palmer, 34, guilty of rape,...
Derry man charged with twice assaulting ex-girlfriend, endangering infant
A Derry man was arrested this week, accused of assaulting and harassing an ex-girlfriend twice on Tuesday. State police arrested Dewayne Mack, 29, on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, simple assault, harassment and strangulation. Police say he assaulted and choked his ex-girlfriend inside her Hempfield Township apartment Tuesday morning. Trooper...
Troopers seek suspect who assaulted, robbed 80-year-old Fayette County man
State police in Uniontown are seeking help identifying the driver of a blue Chevrolet Malibu who allegedly assaulted and robbed an 80-year-old Dunbar Township man outside his home Thursday. State Trooper Robert Broadwater said the victim had just visited an ATM at the PNC Bank branch along Route 119 in...
Facebook post leads to more charges for accused Murrysville massage parlor owner
Despite arguing that a social media post accusing someone of being a “liar” does not amount to a crime, a Mt. Pleasant woman accused of running four massage parlors in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties was ordered to stand trial for intimidating a witness Friday after allegedly making such a claim...
Greensburg cops seek man who stole crossbow, ran into woods
Greensburg Police are asking the public’s help in identifying a man who stole a crossbow from an outdoors store and fled into the woods Wednesday. Police said the theft occurred about 3:45 p.m. when the suspect entered the store and removed a crossbow from a box, then ran into a...
Jeannette man charged with raping girl over 8 years
A Jeannette man was arrested Thursday by Westmoreland County Detectives and charged with raping a girl over the past eight years. Ronald Lee Rice, 59, was arraigned before Washington Township District Judge Jason Buczak on charges of rape, aggravated indecent assault on a person less than 13 years old and...
Greensburg man’s shooting death ruled suicide
The Westmoreland County Coroner’s office reported a man who was shot and killed in his Greensburg home Tuesday took his own life. Deputy Coroner John Ackerman said the death was ruled a suicide following an investigation by the coroner’s office and city police. An autopsy was performed Wednesday by forensic...
Police: Man awaiting trial in cocaine trafficking case tried to break into Greensburg apartment
A Fayette County man already charged in connection with one of the largest cocaine trafficking organizations in the region’s history was ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail Wednesday after, police say, he tried to break into a Greensburg apartment. Tyler M. Benefield, 34, of Connellsville was arrested...
Coroner, police remain mum on Greensburg death investigation
An autopsy was performed Wednesday on the body of a Greensburg man who was shot and killed a day earlier inside his home, but investigators still refuse to identify him or provide details of the investigation. The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office confirmed that forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril H. Wecht conducted...
Teen charged with arson in Greensburg Central Catholic fire
A 16-year-old student is accused of setting a paper towel on fire last month in a boys locker room at Greensburg Central Catholic High School. He faces arson and related charges, according to state police. State police fire marshal Trooper Seth Helman said a month-long investigation determined that the teenager...
Investigation continues into shooting death at Greensburg home; no arrests made
Workers with the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office removed a body from a Greensburg home Tuesday after a reported shooting that investigators said involved the death of a man. The identity of the deceased was not available. After the body was removed at 5:50 p.m. from the Menoher Way residence, Coroner...
Penn Township man accused of 2 DUIs in 1 day
Police this month twice arrested a Penn Township man within three hours on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and careless driving. Officers charged Cody James Winslow, 21, in connection with both incidents, which occurred at 2:48 a.m. and 5:12 a.m. May 15, according to Penn...
Troopers say tips from public led them to suspect in car keying at Unity Walmart
State police in Greensburg said tips from the public helped them identify a woman accused of keying a car outside Walmart in Unity in April during a dispute over a parking space. Lori Ann Hoak, 44, of Latrobe, has been charged by state police with criminal mischief before Unity District...
Fayette County woman accused of abusing 1-year-old boy
State police at Belle Vernon on Friday filed charges against a Fayette County woman for the alleged abuse of a 1-year-old boy. Paige M. Petrucci, 22, of LaBelle in Luzerne Township, was arrested following a five-month investigation by state police and the Fayette County Children and Youth Services. The investigation...
