Renatta Signorini stories, Page 140
Smithton man pleads guilty to punching Westmoreland County Prison guard
A Smithton man pleaded guilty Wednesday to punching a Westmoreland County Prison guard last fall. Timothy D. Ingram, 18, was sentenced to about 4-1/2 months to 23 months on a simple assault charge. He was given credit for time served since his arrest on Feb. 15. Authorities said Ingram threw...
Man acquitted of most charges in Irwin animal cruelty case
A man previously from Irwin was ordered to pay a fine on a summary neglect of animals count after a nonjury trial Tuesday. Antoine M. Prigg, 24, of Oxford, Chester County, was acquitted of the majority of animal cruelty and related charges against him in connection with what police described...
North Huntingdon doctor ruled competent to stand trial in 2 drug overdose deaths
A former North Huntingdon doctor is competent to stand trial in connection with the 2016 drug overdose deaths of two patients, a Westmoreland County judge ruled Tuesday. But the attorney for Michel Toret, 73, of Jeannette, doesn’t believe the case will go before a jury. Attorney Michael DeRiso said Toret...
Youngwood man sent to prison for sexually assaulting 2 teen girls
A Westmoreland County judge sentenced a Youngwood man to 8-1/2 to 17 years in a state prison Tuesday for sexually assaulting two teenage girls in 2016. Darell Deisean Walker, 23, was ordered to spend an additional five years on probation following the prison term. “Your conduct and the testimony …...
Jeannette man ruled competent to stand trial in fatal fire case
A man is competent to stand trial on homicide and arson charges in connection with a fatal fire last year in Jeannette that killed an elderly woman, a judge ruled Monday. Brian Eric Rendon, 34, of Jeannette needed some extra help and explanation to understand the charges and trial process,...
Police: Man rammed wife’s vehicle in Penn Township
A Plum man is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison after police said he rammed his wife’s vehicle in Penn Township on Sunday, causing her to lose control and almost hit another motorist, according to court papers. Robert Frank Stampo, 43, is charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and...
Police: Man pinned, dragged by tractor-trailer after jumping on it on Pa. Turnpike
A New York man was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital Monday morning after state police said he jumped onto a tractor-trailer on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Cyril A. Sooklal, 37, was driving west on the highway just before 10 a.m. in Mt. Pleasant Township when troopers said he...
Pennsylvania lowers sales tax on taproom craft beers, pushes start to Oct. 1
Some craft beer brewers will adjust prices. Others are considering options to offset any additional cost associated with a state requirement that they must collect sales tax starting Oct. 1 — after a July 1 start date was delayed — on beers sold at their taprooms and to-go purchases. John...
Sobriety checkpoint coming to Westmoreland County in July
State police in Greensburg will be on the lookout for intoxicated drivers during the first half of July. Troopers in the station’s patrol unit will set up a sobriety checkpoint somewhere in Westmoreland County between July 1 and 17, according to a news release. Authorities did not offer any other...
Police: Jeannette man accused in Hempfield rape of 14-year-old girl fled to Kentucky
A Jeannette man fled to Kentucky in an effort to avoid being arrested on allegations he raped a 14-year-old girl, according to state police. Steven Alan Deluke, 40, was identified as the suspect in the Hempfield case through bodily fluids collected in a rape kit, according to court papers. Deluke...
Police: Greensburg man pulled woman out of wheelchair, punched her
A Greensburg man is free on bail after police said he pulled a woman from her wheelchair and attacked her, according to court papers. Todd James Slate, 32, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing July 25 in connection with the accusations. Police reported that Slate was fighting with the woman...
Police: Dog found dead in Belle Vernon backyard had ‘obvious signs’ of starvation
A Belle Vernon man and woman are facing animal cruelty charges after a dog was found dead in their backyard Tuesday, according to court papers. Troopers said the dog had obvious signs of starvation and abuse. Christopher Michael Foreman, 35, and Rachel Marie Bonacci, 36, allegedly left the dog locked...
Police: 5 shots fired in residential area of Fairfield, suspect arrested
A Fairfield Township man was jailed Wednesday on $500,000 bail after state police said he directed a passenger in his car to fire five shots out of the window Tuesday. Darion Andrew Martin, 21, is charged with firearms violations, simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. Troopers were called to...
2 troopers, prisoner released from hospital after incident outside Indiana County state prison
Two state troopers based in Indiana County were placed on administrative duties while authorities investigate how they and a state prison inmate got hurt Monday in an unmarked patrol car, according to state police. The troopers and the 20-year-old male prisoner were treated for minor injuries at Indiana Regional Medical...
Jeannette man arrested on arson charge in connection with April fire
Jeannette police Tuesday arrested a city man they charged last month with arson and related counts in connection with an April 2 fire. Jason Anthony John, 40, was being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $250,000 bail. Authorities accuse John of setting an abandoned North Third Street home on...
New charge filed against Hempfield man accused of threatening church, pastor
A Hempfield man accused of leaving threatening messages for the pastor of a Penn Township church was arrested Tuesday on a charge of flight to avoid apprehension. Mark Eugene Ray, 59, was found hiding in an East Pittsburgh home June 3, 10 days after he allegedly fled from police trying...
Charges withdrawn in Murrysville hit-and-run tied to lottery scam
Charges were withdrawn Tuesday against a Jamaican national from Maryland accused by police of hitting a Murrysville man with his vehicle while trying to collect $100,000 in an alleged lottery scam. Prosecutors said they dropped two counts against Clint OBrian Robinson, 47, because of an ongoing investigation by the state...
Pittsburgh police seek help identifying man suspected in CVS robbery
Pittsburgh police need help identifying a man who they believe was involved in a robbery last week in Downtown. Investigators released in a Facebook post surveillance images of the suspect who they said entered the CVS on Sixth Street just before 7:45 a.m. on Thursday. The man had his face...
Part of Watt Road in Washington Township set for short-term closure
Part of Watt Road in Washington Township will be closed for about 12 hours Thursday for construction work, according to PennDOT. The closure will begin at 6 a.m. near the road’s intersection with Pine Run Road near Elbert N. Kunkle Park. The road will reopen after work is done, anticipated...
Police: Argument led to stabbing at Hempfield home; victim hospitalized
A Hempfield man is behind bars after state police said he stabbed a man Friday inside a township home. Vincente Alejo Andres, 34, is accused of stabbing the man in the face while the pair were fighting at a Tiffany Circle home. The injured man was taken to AHN Forbes...
Police: DUI suspected in Murrysville motorcycle crash
Murrysville police believe a motorcyclist was driving under the influence Sunday night in a one-vehicle crash on Route 366. The driver lost control of the motorcycle at 8:18 p.m. and crashed near Hankey Church Road, according to police Chief Thomas Seefeld. The driver had a major head injury and broken...
‘Puppy dog eyes’ are as convincing as they seem, researchers say
If you think it’s adorable when a dog raises its eyebrows and makes sad-looking eyes, you are not alone. Apparently, evolution is to thank for that heart-melting expression that can result in extra treats or cuddles. A group of researchers, including a Duquesne University professor, have determined that while dogs...
Police: Hempfield man solicited sex from agent posing as 14-year-old boy
A Hempfield volunteer firefighter allegedly set up a meeting for sex with who he thought was a 14-year-old boy through a social media messaging service, according to court papers. But when Tyler Richard Byerly, 21, arrived at the planned meeting spot Thursday in Hempfield, he was arrested by agents from...
Police: Pedestrian struck, injured by car in Hempfield parking lot
A Derry man is believed to have a serious injury after being hit by a car in a parking lot on Monday, according to state police. Troopers said in a news release issued Friday that Roy R. Yost, 71, was walking through Eastgate Plaza in Hempfield at 1 p.m. when...
Ligonier Beach site of Titanic movie filming
No, Ligonier Beach is not open. The shuttered pool, however, has been the site for the last few days of filming for an independent movie about the sinking of the Titanic and its aftermath. The familiar summertime sight of the pool full of water caught some off guard, Ligonier Township...
