Morning Roundup: Standoff ends in arrest in Monongahela; Mayor Gainey's communications director resigns

Here are a few news items for Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024:

Standoff ends in arrest in Monongahela

A Carnegie man was arrested Wednesday evening after an hourslong police standoff in Monongahela that began after a chase.

Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh told Trib news partner WTAE that Emmanuel Houghton, 19, was taken into custody around 7:45 p.m.

Houghton had holed up in a home near Third and Chess streets, about a block away from the city’s main business district. Walsh told reporters that police were pursuing a stolen vehicle around 9 a.m. when Houghton fired at officers and fled into the home.

WTAE reported that a Facebook Live video during the standoff appeared to depict a man believed to be Houghton describing what was happening from inside the house where he was hiding.

Authorities have an arrest warrant for Houghton in connection with a theft incident in Pittsburgh on July 14, according to court papers. No charges had been filed in connection with the standoff. He remains under court supervision in a trespass and terroristic threats case filed by police in Scott Township related to an incident last year.

Mayor Gainey’s communications director resigns

Courtesy of Mayor of Pittsburgh

Maria Montaño

The communications director for Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has resigned.

Maria Montaño was appointed in February 2022, becoming the city’s first openly transgender woman to serve in the position. She previously worked with SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania and served as communications director for the Professional Disc Golf Association World Championships hosted in Pittsburgh in 2015.

She also worked with Councilwoman Erika Strassburger to expand protections for the LGBTQ+ community in Pittsburgh.

Olga George, a City of Pittsburgh spokeswoman, confirmed Thursday that Montaño resigned and said she expected Gainey to issue a statement on the topic later in the day.

“She was not fired,” George said.

Montaño did not return a message seeking comment.

Moon Township man pleads guilty to $1M tax fraud

A Moon Township man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday for failing to report $1 million in business income between 2017 and 2022.

Albert Boyd Jr., 53, pleaded guilty to a count of willfully filing a false tax return. Prosecutors said Boyd failed to report income related to scrap metal sales from Boyd Roll-Off Services, Inc. on the business’ tax return. Instead, cash proceeds were not deposited into the business bank account and checks were deposited into other accounts, authorities said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 17.

Gas firm pleads no contest to environmental violations

A natural gas company in Greene County pleaded no contest to environmental violations related to the operation of several wells between 2015 and 2020, according to Attorney General Michelle Henry.

Greylock Production entered the plea this week to four violations of the Clean Streams Act and two violations of the Solid Waste Management Act. The firm was ordered to pay fines of $30,000. An additional $60,000 will be paid to the Chestnut Ridge chapter of Trout unlimited and $50,000 to Stream Restoration, Inc.

Henry said an investigation determined well pads operated by Greylock had issues that resulted in leaks and contamination of water supplies. Two employees were criminally charged.