Renatta Signorini stories, Page 87
Man arrested in theft of $8,200 bicycle from Greensburg shop
Several search warrants led Greensburg police to arrest a New York City man who they believe stole an $8,200 bicycle from a local shop, according to court papers. Joziha J. Clemens, 21, was arraigned Friday after being extradited to Westmoreland County. He was being held on $75,000 bail at the...
Man accused by police of stealing car from Bell driveway, setting it on fire after crashing it
A Kittanning man was arraigned Tuesday on state police accusations that he stole a car from a Bell home, crashed it and set the interior on fire, according to court papers. Robert James Booth, 29, is charged with reckless burning, theft, risking catastrophe and related offenses. Troopers said a Dodge...
Pittsburgh man sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for phone smuggling, bribery, drugs
A Pittsburgh man was sentenced Friday to 12 years in federal prison for working with an Indiana County Jail guard to smuggle cellphones into the lockup where he was being held on drug and weapons violations, according to prosecutors. Rashon Richardson, 31, pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent...
‘You should be inclined to be skeptical’ police chief says about cash scam targeting elderly
The calls seemed so real. It played on their emotions — relatives were in jail and needed cash to post bond. But two Westmoreland County women were too wise and didn’t fall for the trick. Both received similar phone calls this week as state police warn residents of numerous reports...
Gas station outside Sam’s Club in Hempfield remains closed after crash damaged building
Repairs were underway Friday to a small building at a gas station outside Sam’s Club in Hempfield after a pickup truck slammed into it earlier this week. Hempfield Fire Department Deputy Chief John Storey said firefighters rescued a person who was inside the attendant building at the time of the...
Appeal denied for mother of man convicted in New Ken cop killing
An appeal was denied Thursday for the mother of a man on death row in the fatal shooting of a New Kensington police officer. The 2020 conviction of Sherry Holt, 51, of Pittsburgh on a hindering apprehension charge was upheld in state Superior Court. She is the mother of Rahmael...
Men charged in shooting outside Greensburg bar treated city street ‘like it was the O.K. Corral’
A 24-year-old man said he dropped his cane and tried to get to safety upon hearing gunshots as he left The Rialto bar in Greensburg last month but was struck by a bullet. William Piscar testified he was leaving the establishment at the intersection of West Otterman Street and North...
Volunteers sought to help clean up fire scene at Mt. Pleasant Township Christian camp retreat
The arduous task of cleaning up a maintenance building destroyed by fire at Laurelville Retreat Center will get underway Monday with the help of volunteers and heavy machinery. “It’ll definitely be messy, dirty work,” said Jeanette Lahm, director of the Mt. Pleasant Township Christian camp retreat. The center’s maintenance building...
Input sought from Jeannette business owners
Two Jeannette councilwomen are hoping to learn more about the needs of city businesses during a session next week. Councilwomen Robin Mozley and Michelle Langdon said the forum planned for 6 p.m. Monday at city hall will give business owners a chance to discuss how they are doing and what...
More incidents of ‘Grandparent Scam’ being reported in region despite Westmoreland arrests
Arrests last year of four men accused of running what state police described as a “Grandparent Scam” in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties apparently has not stopped others from trying the scheme in the region. Trooper Cliff Greenfield said Wednesday that at least 12 reports have been received over the past...
Braddock Hills man pleads guilty to possessing guns stolen from retired Pittsburgh cop
A Braddock Hills man pleaded guilty this week in federal court to having two pistols that were stolen from the car of a retired Pittsburgh police sergeant, according to prosecutors. Frankie Leon Morrison, 55, was indicted in May 2019 and pleaded guilty Monday to charges of unlawful possession of a...
Answer to dog-or-coyote question doesn’t surprise Westmoreland woman who found animal
Christina Eyth wasn’t exactly surprised to learn the genetic results of an animal she found shivering and scared underneath her Fairfield porch Jan. 17. “I kind of saw it coming,” she said Tuesday. “I figured it was going to be a coyote.” The dog-or-coyote debate was laid to rest Monday...
Dog or coyote? DNA test confirms species of animal that escaped from Westmoreland rehab center
One question has been answered about the animal that was undergoing tests to determine if was a coyote or a dog. DNA testing confirmed it is 100% a coyote, said Morgan Barron, wildlife rehabilitator. But another question remains: Where is it? The coyote escaped in late January from Barron’s Mt....
Hempfield man accused of jumping in and out of traffic on Route 136
A Hempfield man is free on bail after state police said he jumped in and out of traffic Friday and fought with troopers, according to court papers. Kenneth Wayne Barron II, 22, is charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, obstruction of highways and public drunkenness. Police said they were called...
Hempfield man accused of sexually assaulting girl daily for 6 years
A Hempfield man was arrested Friday on state police accusations that he sexually assaulted a girl for six years starting when she was 9, according to court papers. Ted Donald Brown III, 42, is facing 50 charges, including rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and corruption...
Man jailed in North Huntingdon drug bust
A Wilkins man is being held without bail after North Huntingdon police said he was involved in a November drug deal, according to court papers. Kenneth R. Rhodes Jr., 31, was arrested Thursday on charges of possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility, witness retaliation and...
Herminie man indicted in Allegheny County bank robbery
An arrest warrant was issued this week for a Herminie man accused in a December bank robbery in Allegheny County. James Smith, 43, was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on a single count of bank robbery. Authorities said in court filings that he took $604 from a Pleasant...
Passersby rescue resident from Greensburg house fireVideo
A New Jersey man in town visiting family got a Greensburg woman to safety Thursday morning as a fire next door began spreading to her home. Gary Demus happened to be riding along Harrison Avenue around 9 a.m. with his cousins Cheryll Chakrabarti and Kevin Conaway, both of Hempfield, on...
Discussions continue about how Jeannette should spend $900K in federal pandemic cash
Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect the correct date of the council meeting. Jeannette council plans to further discuss next month how to spend its American Rescue Plan allocation. There have been many suggestions, ranging from infrastructure projects to small grants for businesses, though a formal plan has...
Hospital leaders hopeful as covid cases decline, staffing remains an issue
Hospital leaders across Western Pennsylvania are hopeful that a downswing from the coronavirus pandemic’s omicron variant appears to be here. They reported decreasing positive case rates and hospitalized covid patients, a welcome reprieve from the onslaught around the holidays and beginning of 2022. “That’s not to say there won’t be...
Youngwood man accused of rape
A Youngwood man was arraigned Wednesday on state police accusations that he bound a woman’s hands and raped her for hours last month, according to court papers. Brandon Robert Giron, 22, is charged with kidnap, rape, unlawful restraint and related offenses. Troopers said they were notified Jan. 21 by the...
Herminie woman hospitalized after Hempfield crash
A Herminie woman was hospitalized Tuesday after state police said she was involved in a one-vehicle crash in Hempfield. Marie L. Kane, 86, was traveling on Route 136 around 9:30 a.m. when troopers said she lost control after being unable to stop for another vehicle that was waiting to turn...
How the Huey helicopter made its way to Lynch Field
It came by police escort, not air. The 1966 U.S. Army Huey helicopter retired at Lynch Field has been there since the mid-1990s, a product of the vision of late Greensburg Fire Chief Edward Hutchinson. He and fellow firefighter Lou Battistella picked it up in September 1995 in Washington, Pa....
Greensburg police looking for suspect in ‘smash and grab’ theft at Lynch Field
Greensburg police are looking for a man accused of smashing the window of a vehicle parked Sunday at Lynch Field and taking a purse. A woman reported the incident just before 2 p.m. outside The Aerobic Center, according to Capt. Shawn Denning. A center manager told investigators that the suspect’s...
Man killed in Hempfield UTV crash
A Hempfield man died Sunday evening when the utility terrain vehicle he was driving collided with a tree, according to Westmoreland County deputy coroner Sean Hribal. Joseph Weisend, 51, sustained multiple blunt force injuries around 5:30 p.m. in the crash along Rocky Mountain Road. Investigators said Weisend was driving a...
