A 36-year-old Latrobe man was arrested this week, charged with assault and attempted robbery by city police for allegedly trying to take a woman’s purse early Tuesday.
Brandon S. Baradziej also is charged with harassment, public drunkenness, simple assault, terroristic threats and theft, according to court dockets.
Officer Mathew Dechicchis reported that police were called to the corner of Main Street and Lincoln Avenue at 2:10 a.m. by the woman’s son.
The woman told police she was walking home from Excela Health Latrobe hospital with her son when she heard Baradziej, who she did not know, yelling at her from the parking lot of the Rite Aid on nearby Depot Street.
The victim told police she ignored Baradziej and continued walking, but Baradziej followed her. The woman said she turned on to Alexandria Street, where Baradziej caught her, grabbed her arm and claimed he had a gun.
The woman said threatened to use pepper spray on Baradziej but he continued threatening her “and told her to give him everything in her purse.”
According to police reports, the victim tossed her cell phone to her son who ran away and called 911.
The woman told police that Baradziej fled, but was found hiding in a nearby alley off of Main Street, Dechicchis said.
After he was apprehended and identified by the woman and her son, police said Baradziej claimed the altercation was a “drug deal gone bad.” However, Dechicchis said the woman agreed to allow police search her purse and no contraband was found.
Unity District Judge Michael Mahady ordered Baradziej held in the county prison after failing to post $10,000 bond.
According to court dockets, Baradziej pleaded guilty to arson in a May 2015 fire that destroyed an apartment house on the 500 block of Main Street and was sentenced to serve three to six years in prison.
