Stowe man pleads to federal charges in police car destruction during 2020 protests

A Stowe man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to his participation in the destruction of a Pittsburgh police car during protests over the death of George Floyd last year.

Da’Jon Lengyel, 23, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder.

He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan on Oct. 12.

Prosecutors said that when Brian Bartels, of Shaler, began vandalizing a police car on the afternoon of May 30 near PPG Paints Arena, Lengyel and another man, Christopher West, joined him.

Law enforcement said that Lengyel stomped on the vehicle’s windshield and threw a traffic cone through it.

Prosecutors said that West and Lengyel also jumped on the roof of the car and then put crumpled paper and cardboard inside and lit it on fire.

Ultimately, the vehicle was destroyed.

Lengyel was arrested about nine days later by sheriff’s deputies.

He faces related charges in state court from that day, as well, including criminal mischief, institutional vandalism and riot.

He is scheduled for a nonjury trial in that case before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski on Nov. 15.

Both Bartels and West previously pleaded guilty in federal court to their involvement in the destruction of the police vehicle. West will be sentenced there on Oct. 5, also on charges of conspiracy and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder. Bartels pleaded guilty in September and was ordered to serve one day in custody and six months in a halfway house.

West faces additional charges in state court in connection with the assault of a KDKA photographer that day as the man was filming the protest and destruction of the SUV.