Paul Peirce stories, Page 62
Troopers need help identifying suspect in Hempfield video game thefts
State police in Greensburg are trying to identify a man who wandered into the backroom of a Hempfield video game store May 11 and made off with a package containing several hand-held video games. Trooper Riley Giaquinto said the man entered the GameStop store at 2200 Greengate Center Circle about...
Monessen man accused of assaulting relative, jailed on $100K bail
A 21-year-old Monessen man remained in the Westmoreland County Prison on $100,000 bail after being accused over the weekend of assaulting of a female relative and cutting her hands. City police arrested Stephen Matinsky just before 7 a.m. Sunday after finding him hiding in the basement of his Dennis Avenue...
Idlewild to open Saturday for 142nd time
Idlewild in Ligonier Township will open for its 142nd season Saturday and Sunday with special prices on admission and concessions. The park voted for the ninth consecutive year as “The Best Children’s Park in the World” by Amusement Today magazine will commemorate the start of its season with special $18.78...
Yough 8th graders celebrate completing drug-alcohol prevention programVideo
There was no “Pomp and Circumstance” playing Friday in the auditorium at Yough Intermediate School, but 150 eighth graders were just as excited about being the first local graduating class of the Project Alert drug and alcohol awareness program. “Project Alert is a specialized, school-based prevention program for middle school...
Monessen’s missing mayor says he hasn’t abandoned his city
It’s been a year since Monessen’s mayor last took a seat at the dais, leaving some residents of the Mon Valley city frustrated and prompting a state lawmaker to propose changing the Pennsylvania constitution to allow absentee elected municipal officials to be removed. Elected in 2017 for a term that...
Police: Southwest Greensburg man held gun to mom’s head for drug money
Three days after Mother’s Day, a 32-year-old Southwest Greensburg man was arrested after being accused of robbing his mom with a pellet gun, according to court documents. Nicholas S. Aaron was arraigned Thursday on multiple charges of aggravated assault, robbery, simple assault, making terroristic threats and harassment filed by Southwest...
Scottdale man accused of stealing more than $8K from catering business
A 48-year-old Scottdale man was arrested Friday on charges of stealing more than $8,000 over three years from the North Huntingdon-based catering business where he used to work. Robert J. Miller was arraigned before District Judge Wayne Gongaware on charges of theft and receiving stolen property filed by Westmoreland County...
Giant Eagle adding car-charging stations thanks to $660K in state grants
The state Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday announced $660,000 in grants for Giant Eagle to add electric car charging stations in Allegheny, Butler and Washington counties aimed at expansion of the state’s alternative fuel highway network. “Pennsylvanians are increasingly interested in protecting the environment and saving money by driving...
5-month probe lands Mt. Pleasant Township man in jail on firearms charges
Following a five-month investigation, state police in Greensburg said they arrested a Mt. Pleasant Township man Thursday for illegal possession of multiple firearms including a AR-15 rifle and grinding off the serial numbers so they could not be traced. Michael C. Lint, 33, was arrested by state police following the...
North Huntingdon Police find $15K worth of marijuana wax, cocaine in traffic stop
North Huntingdon police stopped a car for driving erratically on Route 30 and arrested two Allegheny County men after finding about $15,000 worth of a powerful marijuana extract known as “Shatter” and a smaller quantity of cocaine, according to court documents. Dwayne M. Jefferson of Munhall and Darius L. Auston,...
Township takes step to buy Ligonier Beach for $230k
Ligonier Township supervisors took another step this week toward acquiring the landmark Ligonier Beach property along Route 30. Supervisors unanimously authorized their solicitor to draft a $230,000 sales agreement to buy the private pool and restaurant property from owners Sherry and Steven Kozar. “I want to emphasize that (the sale)...
School bus hits Irwin church, driver injured
No serious injuries were reported early Wednesday when a First Student bus on its way to pick up students in the Penn-Trafford School District wrecked while making a turn onto Second Street in Irwin and struck Immaculate Conception Church. Irwin police Chief Roger Pivirotto said the bus was not carrying...
PA accuses OxyContin creator Purdue Pharma of ‘fueling’ opioid epidemic
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Tuesday that his office has filed a civil lawsuit against drug giant Purdue Pharma claiming the company fueled the state’s opioid epidemic through its sales of the painkiller OxyContin. “Simply stated, Purdue took advantage of addiction to make money,” the lawsuit contends. The civil...
Tips led Latrobe Police to robbery suspect
Latrobe Police said tips provided by the public led to the arrest Tuesday of a Johnstown man in connection with the March 8 robbery of the BP gas station-convenience store. Cory Lonsinger, 27, was arrested by city police on charges of robbery, robbery by use of force, unlawful taking, receiving...
Penn Township man who restrained mother now accused of assaulting father
A Penn Township man who in 2016 pleaded guilty to restraining his mother was arrested this week on charges of assaulting his father during an argument near his home. Penn Township police charged Neal Hubish, 39, with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, harassment and simple assault in connection with the incident...
Video surveillance photographs lead Greensburg police to theft suspects
Greensburg police used convenience store surveillance photographs to identify a couple who allegedly stole a woman’s purse out of a car and went on a spending spree this month. Amanda M. Hoeft, 23, and her boyfriend, Dylan M. Bollman, 28, were charged by police with theft, receiving stolen property and...
Charleroi K9 Blitz assists Monessen police, state agents in drug arrest
Monessen police and investigators from the state attorney general’s office needed an assist from Charleroi’s police dog officer Blitz when they searched a city man’s home and SUV for drugs Friday while executing a search warrant. Blitz and his handler, William Gardner, were called in to assist in searching the...
Cops: Derry Township man attacked stepfather with butcher knife
A Derry Township man is accused of attacking his stepfather with a butcher knife Saturday inside a house in the village of Torrance. State police said Thomas McQuaide, 53, defended himself with a baseball bat during the 11 a.m. attack, striking David Geisler, 21, in the head. Trooper Ty Smith...
Cops: Ligonier woman arrested hours after heroin OD victim resuscitated
Hours after Mutual Aid Ambulance paramedics resuscitated a Ligonier Township woman from a suspected heroin overdose Thursday, Ligonier police acquired a search warrant and arrested a 37-year-old woman for allegedly supplying the drugs, according to court documents. Robin D. Gowin was arrested after Sgt. James Friscarella and police dog Kilo...
Monessen mayor’s absence prompts call for law change to boot AWOL elected officials
The prolonged absence of Monessen Mayor Matt Shorraw has prompted a proposal to change the Pennsylvania constitution to allow the removal of elected municipal officials for lack of attendance at public meetings. “For more than a year, the Monessen mayor has not attended city council meetings. Local government cannot operate...
Avonmore man accused of killing bulls with crossbow cited for damaging apartment
A man accused of shooting four bulls with a crossbow on a Loyalhanna Township farm during St. Patrick’s Day weekend was cited for causing a disturbance inside an Avonmore apartment house where he lives, state police said. Shaun D. Ross, 60, was cited Thursday for criminal mischief and disorderly conduct...
Cops: Man who fought North Huntingdon police had empty stamp bags, suboxone
A Trafford man accused of fighting North Huntingdon police in a convenience store parking lot this week is also charged with possessing 176 empty stamp bags, a package of Suboxone and hypodermic needles, according to court documents. Michael J. Lapaglia, 29, of Trafford was ordered held in the Westmoreland County...
West Penn Power restores electricity in Allegheny, Westmoreland after outage
A broken switch Thursday at a West Penn Power substation knocked out service to more than 7,000 utility customers in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. More than half of impacted customers had power restored by 11 a.m., according to the FirstEnergy website. Power to all customers was restored by 2:30 p.m....
Man accused of sexually assaulting Greensburg woman
An Indiana County man who was invited to stay overnight at a Greensburg woman’s home in March was arrested Thursday by city police for sexual assault. Thomas W. Swearingen Jr., 30, of Blairsville, is charged with aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault in connection with the alleged assault March 24...
Cops: Mt. Pleasant fugitive found hiding under bed at mother’s home
A Mt. Pleasant area man wanted for skipping several court hearings following recent drug arrests was discovered by Westmoreland County sheriff deputies Tuesday hiding under a bed in his mother’s house with several baggies and a jar of crystal methamphetamine nearby, according to court documents. Members of the sheriff’s department...
