Derry Township man accused of nearly running over kids in playground, soliciting sex from girls

A Derry Township man accused of soliciting sex from two girls last week is accused of having a marijuana grow operation in his former Greensburg home, according to court papers.

Eric Alan Armstrong, 31, is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail in two cases. An arrest warrant was issued last month in connection with the alleged marijuana operation.

Greensburg police executed a search warrant March 25 at Armstrong’s former Harrison Avenue home and found an aluminum grow tent and other items used to grow marijuana, according to court papers. Raw marijuana was found on a baking sheet in the oven, police said. Charges in that case were filed June 16.

State police caught up with Armstrong on Wednesday after being dispatched to Murtha Way in Derry Township at 5 p.m. Several witnesses told police Armstrong was driving a Chevrolet Trailblazer and nearly ran over children in a playground, solicited sex from two girls and exposed his buttocks to the neighborhood, according to court papers.

Troopers found the vehicle with a flat tire near the home of Armstrong’s mother. Police located him after a short search.

Armstrong is charged with drug offenses, reckless endangerment, open lewdness, disorderly conduct and related offenses. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records.

Preliminary hearings are set for July 15 in the lewdness case and the following day in the drug case.