Renatta Signorini stories, Page 96
State, local police plan Independence Day sobriety patrols, checkpoints in Westmoreland areaVideo
Beware, Westmoreland County drivers — local and state police are going to be keeping a close eye out for intoxicated motorists over the next several days. State troopers and the Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force both said they plan to have roving patrols and stationary sobriety checkpoints around the area...
Unity man accused of chasing woman on foot on Route 30 in Hempfield
A Unity man is behind bars after state police said he chased a woman on foot on Route 30 in Hempfield during a fight, according to court papers. Mucahit Demir, 25, is charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, harassment and walking on a highway. Troopers were called just before 1:30...
Salem man accused of fleeing, hiding from police in Route 30 chase
A Salem man is accused of speeding away from state police over the weekend on Route 30 and hiding in a wooded area before being caught, according to court papers. Aaron Patrick Weimer, 55, is charged with fleeing from police, driving under the influence and related offenses. Troopers were on...
2nd suspect charged in Jeannette shooting
A McKeesport man arraigned Monday is accused by police of ordering the April shooting of a 17-year-old boy in Jeannette, according to court papers. Brandon Lee Ingram, 24, was charged last week with solicitation to commit homicide, reckless endangerment and related offenses. Authorities said Ingram ordered his younger brother to...
Hiring still a problem across most industries
Despite inventive ways to lure new job candidates, owners and managers in many industries have been striking out for months on filling open spots. There was 20 openings in late May at Charley Family Shop ‘n Save stores in Murrysville, Hempfield and Greensburg. Co-owner Tom Charley said the grocer started...
Pandemic business survival a question of help, perseverance
Some relied on government funding to get through. In other cases, employees pitched in, volunteering their time instead of taking a paycheck. Others switched gears entirely, revamping their business plan. Whatever the means, local businesses found a way to survive months fraught with government-mandated shutdowns, capacity restrictions and headaches brought...
Fairfield man jailed; police say he stomped on woman’s head while wearing steel-toed boots
A Fairfield man is being held without bond after state police say he stomped on a woman’s head after a Christmas dinner last year, according to court papers. Zachery Allen Collier, 26, was charged Friday with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, stalking and related offenses. Troopers said Collier went to a...
Westmoreland will borrow $140 million to keep pension fund solvent
Westmoreland County plans to borrow about $140 million to bolster its pension fund. County commissioners this week unanimously approved a bond issue to ensure the fund that pays benefits to more than 1,300 government retirees remains solvent over the next 30 years. Finance director Meghan McCandless said the amount will...
2 sisters accused in break-in, attack at Mt. Pleasant Township home
Two sisters were arrested this week because state police said they broke into a Mt. Pleasant Township home and attacked a woman. Authorities said the pair came back two days later in an apparent effort to repeat the attack but left as police were being called, according to court papers....
Former Franklin Regional school director charged with stealing campaign signs
Charges were filed Wednesday against a former Franklin Regional school director after state police said he stole campaign signs belonging to three candidates. Gary J. English, 65, is facing three misdemeanor counts of theft and a summary disorderly conduct offense. He denied the allegations. “I didn’t steal any signs,” English...
Greensburg woman charged with weapons violation in shooting investigation
A Greensburg woman was charged Wednesday with a weapons violation in connection with a weekend shooting in the city. Victoria Jasmine Wilkins, 22, is facing a charge of carrying a firearm without a license, a misdemeanor. Police said in court papers she and Issac C. Morton, 20, of Greensburg retrieved...
Former Derry mayor acquitted in case involving gun pulled on 4 childrenVideo
Derry Borough’s former mayor was acquitted of all charges against him Wednesday in a 2019 incident in which he pulled gun during a fight among three children at a park. Jurors deliberated for nearly four hours and cleared Kevin M. Gross, 40. He had been charged with simple assault, reckless...
Expert testifies on use of force at former Derry mayor’s trial
A police use-of-force expert testified Tuesday that he believed the former Derry Borough mayor acted appropriately when he used a gun to stop a fight among three children because he believed a knife was involved. Cliff Jobe Jr., a retired state trooper, said Kevin M. Gross, 40, made attempts to...
Greensburg man charged with sexually assaulting girl
A Greensburg man in a probationary program on child endangerment and cruelty to animals charges was arraigned Sunday, charged with sexually assaulting a girl, according to court papers. John Harry Patak III, 30, is charged with aggravated indecent assault of a child, corruption of minors and related offenses. City police...
Vandergrift man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 2 girls
A Vandergrift man pleaded guilty Monday to sexually assaulting two girls, avoiding trial. Eric Jermain Emory, 35, will be sentenced June 28. Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney James Lazar said Emory waived a presentence investigation. Prosecutors are recommending a state prison sentence for Emory, who has been jailed since July....
Leechburg man gets probation in crash that seriously injured woman
Life hasn’t been the same for Helen Shaw after her car was forced off the road in Allegheny Township by an unlicensed driver. She can’t do some her favorite activities, like swim or take her dog for a walk, because the pain becomes overwhelming. Mostly, she stays at home. “The...
New Kensington man pleads guilty to homicide by vehicle in death of woman
A New Kensington man pleaded guilty Monday to driving drunk when a woman died in 2017 after falling from his moving pickup in Lower Burrell. James Jay Jenniches, 55, formerly of Vandergrift, pleaded guilty to charges of homicide by vehicle and driving under the influence, avoiding a trial. He is...
Former Derry Borough mayor expected to testify in own defense at trial
Jurors are being asked to determine what former Derry Borough Mayor Kevin M. Gross’ intent was in 2019 when he pulled out a handgun at a playground during an altercation among three teenagers. Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney Pete Caravello said Monday during opening statements that Gross, 40, pointed the...
Boy, 16, shot outside Greensburg apartment; police make 2 arrestsVideo
A 16-year-old boy was shot Sunday outside a Greensburg apartment complex, and police arrested two people Monday, according to Capt. Shawn Denning. Officers were called to Eastmont Estates about 1:30 p.m. Sunday for a reported shooting involving several people. The teen was shot in the leg and hand and is...
Hempfield man pleads guilty in DUI crash that seriously injured another motorist
A Hempfield man pleaded guilty Monday in connection with a 2019 drunken-driving crash that seriously injured another motorist. Joseph J. Forbes, 66, entered a general plea to charges of aggravated assault by vehicle and driving under the influence. Prosecutors dismissed other offenses. State police arrested Forbes in connection with the...
Part of East Carson Street to be closed for Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Pittsburgh
Two blocks of East Carson Street in Pittsburgh’s South Side will be closed Monday afternoon for a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris. City police said the street between Sarah and South 28th streets, including the intersection of Hot Metal Street, will be closed between noon and 4:30 p.m. Other...
Boy shot at Mt. Washington home after answering knock at door
A boy was shot early Sunday at a Mt. Washington home after Pittsburgh police said he answered a knock at the door. Officers were called to Natchez Street just before 5 a.m. and found the boy. They used a tourniquet on his wounds and he was taken by ambulance to...
Man hospitalized after shooting in Fineview
A man was hospitalized in critical condition Saturday night after Pittsburgh police said he was shot in Fineview. Officers responded to Belleau Drive in the Allegheny Dwellings housing development at 8:20 p.m. after a Shotspotter alert and 911 call. The man had gunshot wounds to the face and chest. He...
Hempfield’s Historic Hanna’s Town hosts Frontier Court DaysVideo
Dave Crispen found himself re-enacting a bloody mess Saturday in one of the newest structures at Historic Hanna’s Town in Hempfield. Inside the Lefevre House, Crispen portrayed a Revolutionary War-era surgeon awaiting casualties coming in from the battlefield. He had the tools of the trade lined up — a tourniquet,...
2 men shot in Homewood South
Two men were shot in Homewood South Saturday afternoon, according to Pittsburgh police. Authorities responded to a Shotspotter alert in the 7100 block of Frankstown Avenue shortly after 12:30 p.m. Two men were found with gunshot wounds, police said. Officers used tourniquets and the wounded men were taken by ambulance...
