Renatta Signorini stories, Page 137
Police: Unlicensed driver crashed into Hazelwood house
A woman who crashed into a Hazelwood house Saturday morning did not have a valid drivers license, according to Pittsburgh Police. The crash was reported just after 7:30 a.m. in the 5100 block of Second Avenue. The driver told police that her brakes failed and she drove across an open...
Police: Greensburg sex offender kissed girl, 5, on forehead
A Megan’s Law sex offender is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail after Greensburg police said he kissed a 5-year-old girl on the forehead. Phillip Maxwell Griffin, 39, allegedly was living at an address that had not been verified by state police as required under Megan’s Law,...
Police: Hempfield man fondled 15-year-old girl
A Hempfield man remained behind bars Saturday on state police accusations that he fondled a 15-year-old girl two months ago. Daniel Michael Yohn, 43, is charged with corruption of minors, indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor. Troopers said in court papers that Yohn inappropriately touched the girl in...
Police: Mother, 2 daughters made $250K in personal purchases on Washington County company’s credit card
A Scottdale woman and her two daughters are accused of making $250,000 worth of unapproved purchases with a Washington County-based company’s credit cards, according to court papers. Laurie Renee Christ, 52, and her daughters, Amanda Renae Christ, 30, of Jeannette, and Lyndsey Nicole Christ, 31, of Armstrong Township, Indiana County,...
Bikers provide support to girl at Westmoreland court hearing
A girl facing the man she claims sexually assaulted her had a few unlikely friends in a Westmoreland County courtroom Wednesday — four motorcyclists. The group, wearing vests with Bikers Against Child Abuse patches, sat in district court with the girl and her family awaiting a preliminary hearing that never...
Judge clears Scottdale woman accused of endangering Vietnam vet
A reckless endangerment charge was dismissed Wednesday against the owner of a Scottdale personal care home who had been accused of letting a Vietnam veteran walk from her facility to the New Stanton area. District Judge Charles Moore ruled that Leah C. Ilgenfritz, 80, shouldn’t be held criminally responsible because...
Former Mt. Pleasant police chief sues borough over firing
Mt. Pleasant’s former police chief filed a federal lawsuit this week claiming that he was fired after defying instructions from officials to ignore what he described as “wrongdoing” on the borough’s part. Douglas Sam, 52, of Mt. Pleasant Township, made several claims in the suit against the borough, including that...
Former Coraopolis man pleads guilty in fentanyl delivery that caused overdose death
A former Coraopolis man will remain detained in a federal prison until his sentencing later this year on charges stemming from a 2017 drug overdose death, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady. Cleo Maurice Bronaugh, 42, pleaded guilty Tuesday to distributing fentanyl and accepted responsibility for the death of a...
FEMA to conduct national Emergency Alert System test
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System Wednesday to determine whether the broadcast still works in the event internet service is disrupted. The test, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will happen at 2:20 p.m. Eastern time, according to an announcement...
Suicide suspected in Interstate 70 crash, bridge jump
A man who jumped off the Smithton Bridge on Monday likely committed suicide, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha. At 2:40 p.m., Brian Hayden, 39, of Monessen crashed a car he was driving westbound into a barrier on the bridge that carries Interstate 70 over the Youghiogheny River between...
New Stanton robbery suspect accused of spitting in jail guard’s face
A New Stanton man arrested in connection with a robbery spree last month was charged Tuesday for allegedly spitting in a guard’s face at the Westmoreland County Prison. Westmoreland County detectives said Anthony David Gillingham Jr., 31, spit in the male guard’s face when he was denied an extra blanket...
Singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield announces Pittsburgh-area show
Singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield will perform at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall on Oct. 20. The artist, best known for her song “Unwritten,” will hit the stage two months after her latest album release, which is expected later in August. The song, released in 2004, garnered several award nominations and...
Body found after person reportedly jumped into Yough River after crash on I-70
A body was discovered in the Youghiogheny River on Monday afternoon after rescuers responded to a report of a person jumping into the river following a crash on Interstate 70, according to a Westmoreland County dispatcher. The crash was reported at 2:40 p.m. on the westbound side of the highway,...
Fraud charge dismissed for Plum contractor accused of not completing project
A home improvement fraud charge against a Plum contractor was dismissed Friday by a Westmoreland County judge. Michael Cerniglia, 55, had been accused by Greensburg police this year of taking a down payment through his business, Michael’s Painting, but failing to start a $1,250 project on Grove Street. Judge Christopher...
Police: Mt. Pleasant man drove 100 mph, cut through cornfield during chase
A Mt. Pleasant man was drunk when he led police on a weekend chase that reached speeds of 100 mph, according to court papers. At one point during the 12.5-mile pursuit, Daniel S. Sebulsky, 34, drove through a cornfield before parking at his home and fleeing on foot, police said....
Jeannette will use drone for police, fire, code enforcement
A drone will join the Jeannette police department soon, but the device’s potential uses could reach beyond the force. Police Chief Shannon Binda said the unmanned aircraft system will be available for city firefighters and code enforcement officers to use for checking out buildings and helping with rescues. “It’s more...
Police: Youngwood man found with 2 pounds of marijuana
A Youngwood man who served time on juvenile probation in connection with a 2014 stabbing was arrested this week after police found him with about 2 pounds of marijuana, according to investigators. Earl S. Keim, 21, is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $60,000 bail. He is charged...
Police: Dump truck driver was on drugs during crash that killed 3 in Fayette County
The driver of a tri-axle dump truck had drugs in his system when he slammed head-on into a pickup in Fayette County in June, killing three people who were members of the same family, according to District Attorney Rich Bower. State police on Thursday arrested Wilbert James Burnsworth, 46, of...
Sen. Kim Ward seeks online feedback about possible fireworks restrictions
State Sen. Kim Ward wants input from constituents on possible restrictions for when fireworks can be set off. It’s the latest series of questions in the Hempfield Republican’s online legislative survey, a feature she started on her website in March. Ward first sought responses through survey questions asking what Westmoreland...
Firefighters battle house fire in Murrysville
Firefighters extinguished flames at a Murrysville home Wednesday morning. Crews were called to MacArthur Drive around 8 a.m. The majority of the damage appeared to be in the rear of the two-story home. Smoke was still pouring out near the roof by about 8:30 a.m. No one was home at...
Penn Township man dies after being rescued when fallen tree traps him inside homeVideo
A Penn Township man rescued from his home early Wednesday after a fallen tree trapped him inside died from injuries about two hours after being freed, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. The 75-foot-tall oak tree toppled about 2:45 a.m. onto the roof of a two-story home owned by...
Man accused in 5 robberies in Allegheny, Westmoreland arrested in South Carolina
A West Mifflin man accused in five 2017 gas station and convenience store robberies in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties was arrested Tuesday in South Carolina by the U.S. Marshals Service. Bennie J. Carter, 54, is accused of being the getaway driver in an alleged conspiracy with three other suspects, according...
Man accused of exposing himself in Latrobe park
A Derry Township man is accused of exposing himself to three boys and a 16-year-old girl last month at Legion Keener Park in Latrobe, according to court papers. Jesse Phillip Hollick, 61, is charged with open lewdness and public drunkenness. Latrobe police said the girl, who was babysitting the boys,...
Police: Passenger found dead in car during Jeannette traffic stop
A woman’s suspicious death Friday is under investigation by Jeannette police and Westmoreland County detectives, according to police Chief Shannon Binda. April J. Claiborne, 31, of Ligonier, was found dead in the front passenger seat of a vehicle during a 7:48 a.m. traffic stop at the intersection of Lowry Avenue...
Mon Valley Opioid Coalition plans National Night Out event in Charleroi
A parade will kick off the Mon Valley National Night Out on Aug. 15 in Charleroi. The Mon Valley Opioid Coalition is organizing the free event which will be held rain or shine at Trustees Park. Vendors will be on hand with food, music, children’s activities, a bicycle raffle and...
