Latrobe man charged with terroristic threats after Hempfield search, school delay

A Latrobe man is being held without bond after state police said he made threats Friday with a shotgun and holed up in his mother’s house, prompting the delay of a Hempfield elementary school.

Dale Owen Smith Jr., 32, is charged with two counts of terroristic threats.

Troopers said in court papers they were called around 5:30 a.m. Friday by Smith’s wife. She reported Smith made threats directed at a man with whom Smith believes she is in a relationship.

A video of the incident was shown to police, who said in court papers that Smith was wielding a shotgun at the time. Police located the other man safely at his home.

Troopers tracked Smith to his mother-in-law’s home and then his mother’s home on McCabe Drive in Hempfield, just north of Greensburg. When troopers called the house, Smith used combative and vulgar language and refused to come out, police said.

After several hours, police said Smith exited and was taken into custody. The shotgun was found in Smith’s vehicle which was parked at a ball field in West Point, according to court papers.

Trooper Steve Limani said Smith surrendered before 9 a.m. Nearby Maxwell Elementary School was delayed by one hour and a bus destined for Harrold Middle School was affected, said Hempfield Area Superintendent Tammy Wolicki.

Smith is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison. A Nov. 9 preliminary hearing is set.

Smith is awaiting trial in another terroristic threats, simple assault and reckless endangerment case from June filed by state police, according to online court records. He pleaded guilty in January to a public drunkenness citation filed by Greensburg police.