Verona man accused of tampering with sprinkler system at senior high-rise, displacing 56 residents

An 82-year-old man is facing charges after being accused of causing extensive damage to a seven-story senior high-rise and temporarily displacing nearly 60 residents Thursday night in Verona.

Steven Speis, a building resident, is charged with a felony count of criminal mischief along with misdemeanors for allegedly tampering with a fire apparatus and disorderly conduct.

Verona police and fire units responded to A.J. Demor Towers just after 6 p.m. for a reported fire alarm activation. Officers found a large amount of water pouring from the seventh floor of the building.

According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, officers found a sprinkler head missing in the kitchen area of Speis’ apartment and water was being dispensed unregulated throughout the building.

Due to electrical and structural damage, 56 residents were evacuated and taken by Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses to the Verona fire station as authorities worked to make temporary housing arrangements for those who needed a place to stay.

“Allegheny County Emergency Services was on scene to provide coordination and support to local responders during the evacuation, with our telecommunications officers playing a key role in managing communications throughout the incident,” said a statement from the county’s emergency service department.

Sgt. Ed Mogus of the Allegheny County Housing Authority said some water extraction was conducted Thursday night. He said authorities returned to the building Friday to continue extraction in certain units and to begin the drying process.

“Other agencies have already reached out to offer assistance to residents,” Mogus said.

He said the Red Cross and Salvation Army were on scene to assist with evacuation and residents’ needs. County departments have also reached out to residents.

Just before 2 a.m. Friday, residents began returning to the building, Verona police Chief Thomas Dessell said.

“Everything works,” Mogus said. “All the electric. All the heat. The building is up and running. … We’re not letting anyone go back in with anything lacking.”

He said the fire system was repaired and the building’s electrical and structural systems were inspected Thursday night.

Dessell said all but four residents were able to return to their apartments.

The four displaced residents are staying in nearby hotels paid for by the building’s management company, Glenshaw Gardens Inc.

“The people who were displaced, they unfortunately took the brunt of the damage,” Mogus said.

He said the department hopes to get them back in their units by early next week. It’s dependent on how long the drying process takes. Mogus said the building is constructed from concrete, which may take a bit to dry.

An employee on site at the high-rise declined to comment. Residents were not available to give comment.

Dessell said police intend to work with the management company and residents for any needs they might have while recovering from the incident.

The water caused damage to almost every floor in the building and residents’ personal belongings, police said.

Dessell said there is a total of about $150,000 worth of damage to the building. No injuries were reported.

During the investigation, police said, fire officials found the sprinkler head in Speis’ apartment had been forcibly removed. The complaint said “gouges and black marks, the shape of a hammer head” were located on the wall and in the area of the sprinkler head.

Speis told police someone was trying to pump gas into his apartment and he heard banging inside the wall near the system, police said. He said he attempted to stop the gas from coming in by banging on the wall, according to the complaint.

According to officials, Speis has had multiple run-ins with police. Most recently, Dessell charged Speis for tampering with the sprinklers in his apartment in December. Speis claimed at that time that he thought someone was pumping gas into his apartment, the complaint said.

“When I arrested him in December, (mental health intervention) was the goal, but obviously it’s fallen through the cracks so to speak,” Dessell said.

Speis has also made numerous other false police statements and reports about similar issues, officials said.

After being taken to the police station, Speis denied damaging the sprinkler system, police said. He again began to talk about gas coming from the sprinkler systems in the building, the complaint said.

As of Friday morning, Speis was being held at Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh awaiting arraignment.