Man to be held in Westmoreland prison while awaiting extradition on attempted murder charge

A South Carolina man charged with the attempted murder of a police officer there will remain in the Westmoreland County Prison while he awaits trial for unrelated theft charges.

Westmoreland County Judge Scott Mears last week set a $50,000 straight bond in the case against Brian Joseph Stoltie, who was arrested in April in East Huntingdon after police said he stole a van during a traffic stop.

“I’ve had time to think some more and I don’t think bond in this case is appropriate, frankly,” Mears said during a hearing Tuesday afternoon. “I am concerned about him having any bond at all.”

Stoltie, 40, is awaiting extradition to South Carolina, where, according to court records, he was charged last year with multiple offenses in connection to a shootout with police. Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney Jim Hopson said Stoltie is facing an attempted murder charge there.

He also is facing charges in Pennsylvania for allegedly failing to register as a convicted sex offender when he came north as well as allegations that he and another man in April stole multiple vehicles in East Huntingdon, Hempfield and South Huntingdon townships.

Defense attorney Jack Manderino said in court on Tuesday that Stoltie did not jump bail in South Carolina when he fled to Pennsylvania.

“He suggested to me they released him by mistake,” Manderino said.

According to media accounts, Stoltie was wounded during the April 2019 shootout with South Carolina police who attempted to make an arrest following an alleged carjacking. Stoltie and another man fled the vehicle and, during a foot chase, shot at police, according to the news report.