Renatta Signorini stories, Page 54
Kinzua skywalk reopens after inspection prompted by high winds
The skywalk at Kinzua Bridge State Park has reopened after high winds prompted an emergency inspection and a temporary closure, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The McKean County structure was closed Wednesday and was inspected Thursday. The skywalk stretches 225 feet above the valley floor...
Video calls showing off pot crop at Monessen home lead to charges against 2
Video calls showing off the progress of a marijuana crop at a Monessen home have resulted in charges against two people, one of whom authorities said participated in the calls from the Westmoreland County Prison, according to court papers. Sydney Sayles, 23, of McKeesport, and Jaamayl A. Crosby, 38, of...
Vandergrift man accused of trying to smuggle meth into Westmoreland County Prison
A Vandergrift man is behind bars after Westmoreland County detectives said he tried to take about a half pound of crystal methamphetamine into the jail after his arrest last month on drug and weapons violations. Luis Alberto Brackman, 42, was strip searched May 16 at the Hempfield lockup when jail...
Rostraver commissioner appeals harassment conviction
A Rostraver commissioner is appealing his conviction of three summary counts of harassment. John Lorenzo, 43, was found guilty during a three-hour May 18 summary trial for making harassing statements toward the township manager and two fellow commissioners, slapping one in the face, at a township Halloween event. Prosecution witnesses...
Graffiti cleanup set at popular Beam Rocks in Forbes State Forest
Obscenities and other graffiti were spray painted on popular natural overlook Beam Rocks in the last couple weeks. Volunteers are being sought to help clean up the vandalism June 24, about three years after a similar undertaking at the sandstone outcroppings along the border of Westmoreland and Somerset counties in...
Westmoreland County leaders seek input on reviving abandoned properties
It will be up to residents and leaders in Westmoreland County communities where large-scale blight removal is underway to bring a vision of improvement to life. County redevelopment authority executive director Brian Lawrence said he hopes meetings planned with community members over the next week will inspire them to take...
Woman arrested outside White Oak police officer’s home
A woman is accused of taking a knife Wednesday to the North Huntingdon home of a White Oak police officer who filed two citations against her June 1, according to court papers. Raquel S. Ulicny, 36, of White Oak was arrested outside the officer’s home after the officer told her...
Duquesne man charged with violating protection-from-abuse order in Irwin
A Duquesne man is behind bars after police said he twice in as many days went to an Irwin apartment from which he is prohibited through a protection-from-abuse order. On one of the occasions, Gerald Martel Brown, 23, is accused of following a woman out of the apartment to her...
Hempfield man sentenced in 2020 fatal overdose case
A Hempfield man was sentenced Tuesday to serve four to eight years in a state prison for selling drugs used in a 2020 fatal overdose of a friend. Rick Paul Petros, 54, was given credit for time served in jail since his arrest in May 2021. He pleaded no contest...
Crime stoppers offers reward for information on disappearance of girl in 1987
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information in the disappearance of a 15-year-old girl in Indiana County 36 years ago. Alicia Markovich has been missing since April 26, 1987 when she left her father’s home off Route 22 in Blairsville, just over the border from Westmoreland County....
Mt. Pleasant Towship man sentenced to house arrest for 2020 armed robbery
A Mt. Pleasant Township man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years of probation and 20 months under house arrest in connection with a 2020 armed robbery. Jake Daniel Franklin, 20, was ordered to get drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations. Judge Scott Mears noted in a court order that...
Original Westmoreland flag still on display at Fort Pitt Museum
Re-enactors with Proctor’s Militia always bring a Westmoreland County flag with them to events, according to Capt. Scott Henry. It’s an important piece of local history and their family heritage, as many are descendants of men who were part of Col. John Proctor’s battalion, created in 1775 as one of...
Woman gets probation for 2020 arson at Bell Township home
A former Bell Township woman was sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation in connection with a 2020 arson at her home. Britny A. Parks, 30, now of Texas, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of failure to report/control a dangerous fire. Other charges, including arson, were dismissed. The plea...
Attorney contends client’s stay in Westmoreland prison may violate speedy trial rights
Attorneys are looking into whether the speedy trial rights of a woman accused of shooting her boyfriend in Penn Township were violated. Defense attorney Ken Noga argued Monday that he believes Leah H. Gillis, 34, of North Braddock has been held at the Westmoreland County Prison for 181 days. “We’re...
Police say motorcycle club conflict results in injuries to 1 man along Route 30
An altercation between members of two motorcycle clubs Sunday left a man injured after state police said the suspect forced a motorcycle off Route 30 in Hempfield and fled the scene. Richard Lee Graham Jr., 27, of Hempfield is being held on $250,000 bail on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated...
Police still seeking 2 men in connection with fatal shooting in Jeannette
Two men with whom authorities want to talk in connection with a fatal shooting in Jeannette Friday remain at large. Westmoreland County District Attorney spokeswoman Melanie Jones said Monday that neither man had been captured and detectives and Jeannette Police were still trying to identify one of them. They are...
Aliquippa woman charged in connection with Salem motorcycle crash
An Aliquippa woman is accused by state police of being impaired during a crash in Salem in which a motorcyclist was seriously injured. Jammie Lynn Koslof, 44, was jailed Tuesday on $25,000 bail in connection with the April 16 crash. State police said Holly Marcheck of Latrobe was waiting at...
Police: Jeannette man gambled away cash informant provided to buy meth
A Jeannette man is accused of taking money he earned in a drug deal and gambling it away at a Hempfield casino, according to police. Craig M. Stout Jr., 48, was arrested Monday on drug, receiving stolen property and money laundering charges. Greensburg police worked with a confidential informant in...
West Newton police officer reports being shocked with Taser during fight with suspect
A West Newton police officer reported in court papers being hit by his own Taser during a fight with a shirtless and shoeless suspect in the street Tuesday night. Police said Joseph Samuel Babilya, 31, of West Newton was under the influence of drugs. He was being held on $100,000...
2 Derry area men accused of assaulting teen
Two men are accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl during separate incidents at Derry Manor Apartments and in an Uber from the apartment building to a motel room, according to court papers. Bail was set at $100,000 each for Christopher R. Fraser, 19, of Derry Township, and Ethan S....
Indiana County man arrested after allegedly arranging payment for sex with 12-year-old girl
A man is being held without bail at the Westmoreland County Prison after agents from the state Attorney General’s office said he set up a meeting to pay for sex with a 12-year-old girl through online communication with a person who he believed was the girl’s mother. Anthony R. Laughard,...
Developer seeks help for former Monsour hospital site in Jeannette
Colony Holding Cos. is enlisting the help of another firm in an effort to bring tenants to the former Monsour Medical Center property in Jeannette. The Route 30 parcel has sat empty since 2017 following a $2 million demolition project. Don Tarosky Jr., whose company purchased the property for $2.1...
Police say Greensburg man sold drugs to undercover trooper 3 times in 8 days
A Greensburg man was jailed Friday after state police said he sold heroin/fentanyl to an undercover trooper three times in eight days. Tywan David, 25, who also has an address in East Pittsburgh, was charged with drug offenses in three cases. His cumulative bail was set at $225,000. According to...
McKeesport man faces stalking, harassment charges
Text messages reportedly sent to a Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau caseworker have landed a McKeesport man in trouble with police. Westmoreland County detectives on Wednesday charged Dirk M. Mayernik, 48, with stalking and harassment. The caseworker reported to authorities May 26 that she received concerning messages from Mayernik, who is...
Murrysville woman accused of stealing $30K in jewelry from cleaning client
A Murrysville woman who owns a cleaning business is accused by police of stealing $30,000 worth of jewelry from a client. About half of the items were returned. Holly Lynn Simpson, 48, was arrested Wednesday on charges of theft and receiving stolen property. She is free on $15,000 unsecured bail....
