Renatta Signorini stories, Page 80
Man jailed after police say he tossed drugs out of window during high-speed chase that ended in East Huntingdon
State troopers recovered crack cocaine, suspected heroin and marijuana that they said a driver tossed along Route 119 during a high-speed chase in Westmoreland County early Sunday, according to court papers. The driver — Jonah K. Reid, 30, of East Pittsburgh — was apprehended in East Huntingdon, police said. Troopers...
Hempfield man accused of assaulting Lyft driver after ride home from gentlemen’s club
A Hempfield man who got a ride home from a gentlemen’s club during the weekend is accused of assaulting his Lyft driver and stealing an electronic device from the vehicle, according to court papers. Carl L. Beltz, 42, is charged with robbery, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, escape and related offenses....
Man accused of leading police on 5-mile chase on Parkway East, crashing into another vehicle
A Jeannette man is free on his own recognizance after state police said he led them on a chase through Monroeville before crashing in Wilkinsburg. Brett R. Birch, 19, is charged with fleeing from police, failure to stop and several other traffic violations. Troopers said they were checking drivers’ speed...
2 hospitalized after rollover crash in Forest Hills
Two people were seriously hurt early Sunday in a one-vehicle crash in Forest Hills, according to Allegheny County Police. The rollover crash was reported just before 4:30 a.m. on Ardmore Boulevard, near the Parkway East interchange. Two adults were ejected from the vehicle and taken to hospitals in critical condition,...
State police: Reports about Easter Bunny at Westmoreland Mall determined to be false
State police over the weekend investigated a report of inappropriate behavior involving the person playing the Easter Bunny at Westmoreland Mall and determined it to be false, according to Trooper Steve Limani. Parents of two teen girls on Saturday reported the situation to police, but the girls later said it...
Woman hurt in Edgewood stabbing; police say man fired shot at suspect
A woman was hurt in a stabbing near a gas station in Edgewood early Sunday and a man she was with fired a shot at the suspect, according to Allegheny County Police. Authorities were called to South Braddock Avenue just before 3:30 a.m. and found the woman with a shoulder...
Woman hurt in Stowe shooting
A woman was shot early Sunday in Stowe, according to Allegheny County Police. First responders were called to the scene on Island Avenue at 4:40 a.m. and found the woman with a leg wound. Police said she was treated at the scene for a graze wound. Detectives are investigating. Anyone...
Man dead in South Side shooting
A man was fatally shot in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood late Saturday, according to police. Officers were called to Freysburg Street around 10:30 p.m. and found the man with gunshot wounds to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene in a residential area a few blocks back from...
Pittsburgh man charged with 4 robberies, including at Fox’s Pizza in Oakmont that left owner shot
A Pittsburgh man was arrested Saturday in connection with four armed robberies this month, including two in which people were shot, according to police. One of the cases took place at the Fox’s Pizza Den in Oakmont. Allegheny County Police identified the suspect in the robbery spree as Eric Jones,...
2 stabbed in Sheraden
Two people were being treated for stab wounds after an incident just after midnight in Pittsburgh’s Sheraden neighborhood, according to police. A man arrived at a hospital shortly after 12:01 a.m. Saturday with a wound to the abdomen and was taken to the operating room, authorities said. Witnesses told investigators...
Pitt professor remembers her brother who died in Ukraine aiding people in need
The way Jimmy Hill lived his life is a complete contrast to the way he lost it — amid Russian bombing in a weeks-long invasion of Ukraine. Katya Hill, a University of Pittsburgh professor, on Saturday said her brother had befriended a woman with four children who lived near the...
Penn Hills man gets 31 years in federal prison for armed robberies
A Penn Hills man who authorities said shot a store employee during one of a series of armed robberies in 2014 was sentenced Thursday to 31 years in prison. George Wilson III, 39, pleaded guilty in September during a jury trial to four firearms counts for armed robberies at gas...
Hunker men accused of shooting dogs say they shot them after peacock’s killing
Two men were charged Wednesday in connection with the December fatal shooting of two dogs that were later found in a wooded area of Hunker. State police said James P. Hill, 76, and his neighbor Jason W. Beal, 35, shot and killed Hagrid, 5, and Aspen, 4. The bodies of...
Pysanki egg sale at Rizzo’s Malabar Inn to benefit Ukrainian causes this year
There will be a lot of Ukrainian symbols tucked into Ginette Simpson’s pysanky eggs this year. The intricate decorations will feature blue and gold colors and Ukraine’s national flower. “I’ve really focused on sunflowers,” she said. “They’re featured in a lot of my designs.” The New Alexandria woman will have...
Police looking for woman who fled after dog bit girl jogging at Hempfield Area High School
A 15-year-old girl was treated at a hospital Monday after being bit by a dog while jogging at Hempfield Area High School. State Trooper Steve Limani said the incident happened around 5 p.m. A woman and the dog fled shortly afterwards in a newer model white Toyota RAV 4. License...
3 accused of drug possession in unrelated domestic calls within 7 hours in Jeannette
Two unrelated domestic incidents within seven hours in Jeannette led to the arrests of two men and a woman after police said they found drugs at both homes, according to court papers. Both men — Alvin Williams, 45, of Jeannette; and Lamont N. Edmonds, 31, of Wilkinsburg — are being...
Pittsburgh man accused of attacking 3 guards at Westmoreland County Prison
A Pittsburgh man being booked into the Westmoreland County Prison last week is accused of attacking three guards, according to court papers. Jason Owens, 20, was arraigned Monday on charges of aggravated and simple assault. He is being held on $25,000 bail in each of three cases. County detectives said...
Jeannette will hear testimony on use of CDBG grant funds
It appears both sides may get their way in Jeannette’s debate over whether to help businesses with grants through government funding related to the coronavirus pandemic. A public hearing is planned at 1 p.m. March 21 at city hall to hear testimony about creating a pot of money for businesses...
Jeannette may move property maintenance officer to full time
Jeannette Council is considering bumping its part-time property maintenance officer up to full-time status. The group discussed the move during an executive session this week and might vote on the matter at a session Thursday. Council in September hired Vincent Pascarella of New Stanton, resurrecting the job that fell in...
East Huntingdon man facing more fraud charges over money taken for work not done
Home improvement fraud charges keep racking up against an East Huntingdon man who was arrested Monday in connection with nearly $49,000 taken from eight Westmoreland County residents. It’s the 10th such case filed against him in Westmoreland and Fayette counties in the past year, according to online court records. Jason...
2nd man arrested in bail scam that targeted Hempfield woman
A second New Jersey man has been arrested in connection with a bail scam that duped a Hempfield woman out of thousands of dollars. Noel Medrano-Abreu, 29, is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail. He was arraigned Tuesday, with the help of an interpreter, on two conspiracy...
Irwin man accused in stabbing
An Irwin man was arraigned Monday on police accusations that he used a steak knife to stab a man multiple times, according to court papers. Eric A. Perez, 39, is charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and simple assault. Borough police were called to Maple Street and Mulberry Lane at...
Florida woman facing charges after loaded gun found at Pittsburgh International Airport
A Florida woman is facing charges after a loaded revolver was found in her backpack Sunday at Pittsburgh International Airport, according to Allegheny County Police. Transportation Security Administration officers spotted the gun just before 7 p.m. in an X-ray machine at the main security checkpoint. The 22-year-old woman, who was...
Ukrainian traditions, roots abound in Westmoreland County
Ukrainian customs are second nature to Mary Alice Hoffer. She is a pierogi “dough roller” at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Derry Township. A small bowl of pysanky eggs sits on a table full of religious icons in her home. It’s a testament to...
Jeannette students party over pancakes as incentive to read more
While Jeannette elementary students savored pancakes Friday, their teachers relished the opportunity to have a little fun at school once again. Teachers used a pancake party as an incentive to encourage reading in their classrooms. It has worked, said first grade teachers Lou Anne Gansor and Cathy Harbaugh. “They just...

