Paul Peirce stories, Page 36
Southwest Greensburg police chief ‘humbled’ by YWCA’s Racial Justice Award
Southwest Greensburg police Chief Chris Kent has seen just about everything in his three decades of police work, but admits a recent telephone call from the YWCA of Westmoreland County practically left him speechless. The agency was calling to inform Kent he was selected to receive its Racial Justice Award...
Mutual Aid Ambulance Service expands coverage in Fayette County
A second rural Fayette County municipality chose Mutual Aid Ambulance Service Inc. as its exclusive provider of emergency medical services for township residents. Springfield supervisors formally made the designation this week. The municipality was previously covered by Connellsville-based Fayette EMS. “We are honored and privileged to expand our service to...
North Huntingdon traffic stop nets fugitive wanted in New Kensington drug death
North Huntingdon police on Monday arrested a man wanted for nearly two years in connection with the drug overdose death of a New Kensington woman. Police say Tre-Ron Arnez Jackson, 27, of Pittsburgh was among three men accused of selling and delivering drugs that New Kensington police allege killed Shanelle...
Police: Trooper almost hit by SUV fleeing undercover drug buy in Hempfield
State troopers closing in on a suspected heroin dealer at a busy Hempfield shopping plaza Tuesday evening narrowly escaped injury when the suspect attempted to flee in his SUV, police said. Stephen J. Turner-Perkins, 33, of Pittsburgh, nearly struck Trooper Bruce Walters, who had his gun drawn, in the parking...
Car salesman in Rostraver accused of keeping buyer’s down payment, never delivering new car
An area woman told Rostraver police that after she thought she bought a new car, making a down payment and trading in her 2010 Honda Civic, she learned last month her salesman kept the $500 and was still driving her car. This week, the car salesman at C. Harper Ford,...
Tipster leads troopers to suspect in fatal East Huntingdon hit-and-run
A week after Robert “Bobby” Sheele was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on March 31 while he walked in East Huntingdon, a tipster called state police to say a Fayette County man was bragging that he would get away with the crime. The tipster later agreed to meet...
Police: Seward man feigned illness, escaped custody over the weekend
A Seward man remained on the loose Monday after convincing a police officer transporting him to the county jail over the weekend that he was ill, state police said. When the officer pulled over along Route 711 in Fairfield on Saturday, 45-year-old Michael Paul Boring got out of the vehicle...
Judge rejects bid to return $2,500 to witness in cop killer investigation
A Westmoreland County judge on Friday denied a Braddock man’s request to return money seized from him during the investigation into the murder of a New Kensington police officer. Tavon Harper, 30, who testified at the 2019 trial of Rahmael Holt, the man convicted of killing New Kensington Officer Brian...
Lower Burrell man awaiting trial in illegal used car scheme avoids return to jail
A Lower Burrell man awaiting trial on 67 criminal counts of using fake identities to sell cars as a licensed dealer avoided having his bond revoked Friday for allegedly “brokering” another car sale last month in Delmont, but was instead admonished by a judge. “From here on out, you are...
Video visits for inmates continue at Westmoreland County Prison in Hempfield
Visitation for inmates at the Westmoreland County Prison will be restricted to video only through September under a agreement approved Thursday by county commissioners. Commissioners approved an amendment to its agreement with Global Tel-Link Corp., the private company that operates the telephone system at the jail in Hempfield. Warden John...
Westmoreland Commissioner Kertes criticized for comments at Trump rally in Murrysville
About two dozen Westmoreland County residents criticized county commissioner’s Chairman Sean Kertes Thursday for comments he made during a political rally last weekend they claim denigrated the county’s younger population. “Here you are Sean Kertes, sowing division based on age, economic standing, race and political affiliation. I get it …...
Woman accused of stealing pickup truck, nearly colliding with state trooper on Route 30 in Hempfield
A woman on probation for illegally driving on to the airfield of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in 2018 was arrested again late Tuesday for driving the wrong way on Route 30 in Hempfield, narrowly missing a state trooper. Police say Dakota J. Jones, 26, of Greensburg, was arrested in a...
No injuries reported in Jeannette duplex fireVideo
No injuries were reported Wednesday when a fire extensively damaged a two-story duplex in Jeannette. City fire Chief William Frye said the fire was reported 1:49 p.m. at 719 Dithridge St. and no one was injured. “We initially got a call that there was entrapment, but we took two walk-throughs...
4 arrested in assault, robbery in Donegal Township
Four people accused in a robbery gone awry Tuesday morning in the parking lot of a Donegal Township motel were arrested hours later, state police said. Christopher M. Graft, 46, of Scottdale, and Brian S. King, 51, of Mt. Pleasant Township, were charged by state police with harassment, simple assault,...
Indiana County woman accused of $500K theft from medical practice
An Indiana County woman accused of stealing $500,000 from the medical practice where worked spent the money on vacations and season tickets to Pitt Panther football games, along with other concerts and sporting events, state police investigators said. Sandra Jo Doak, 61, of Blairsville, was arraigned Monday before Homer City...
Southwest Greensburg man accused of 3 road rage collisions on Route 30
A Southwest Greensburg man awaiting a preliminary hearing for a March stabbing was arrested Friday after three alleged road rage incidents along Route 30 near Adamsburg. Jason M. Walters, 37, was arrested by state police on three counts of aggravated assault and single counts of illegal possession of a firearm...
Cops: Attacker told 3 victims in Derry Township apartment, ‘You’re all going to die tonight’
Cathy Tarr grimaced Monday inside the still-blood spattered kitchen and living room of a Derry Township apartment where her sister, niece and a family friend were brutally attacked by an intruder early Sunday. Her sister, Karen Short; niece, Amber Short, 18; and friend Adam Rousson of Montreal, Canada, all remained...
South Huntingdon man accused of threatening mother, firing gun after troopers arrived
A 30-year-old South Huntingdon man was arrested Thursday after allegedly threatening to shoot his mother with a 9 mm handgun and then firing the gun outside as state troopers arrived at the scene. Andrew C. Cyktor was arraigned before District Judge Chris Flanigan in night court on multiple charges of...
Jeannette VFW, water authority in long dispute over basement leakVideo
For the last year, Jeannette VFW Post 8240 Commander Frank Drury has spent two hours a week pumping water out of the flooded sub-basement of the club at 111 South 4th St. “Right now, I estimate that we’ve pumped more than 367,800 gallons since August 2019,” Drury said. “That’s with...
Trees blamed for record power outages across Pennsylvania in 2019, state commission says
The 52 power outages reported across Pennsylvania in 2019 marked a record high since the state Public Utility Commission began collecting reliability data 27 years ago, the agency reported. The “reportable outage events,” mainly caused by severe thunderstorms that downed trees, interrupted service to about 2 million customers statewide, according...
Woman accused of choking prospective witness inside Westmoreland County Courthouse
A 47-year-old woman was arrested at the Westmoreland County Courthouse Wednesday on charges of assaulting and choking a woman who was to testify against her in a custody dispute, according to court documents. Rhonda L. Cathers, 47, of Daisytown, Washington County, was arrested by county park police in the courthouse...
Principals in alleged drug smuggling at Westmoreland County Prison ordered to trial
When investigators listened in on inmates’ telephone calls during an 18-month probe into alleged drug smuggling at the Westmoreland County Prison, they often heard inmates referring to “spicy chicken,” “deuce” or “papers.” But the conversations weren’t referring to food, card games or legal paperwork. It was code that a delivery...
Pa. parole violators may be considered for ‘safe return’ through Sept. 4
Pennsylvania parole absconders will be given an 11-day window to voluntarily turn themselves beginning next week to receive a better chance of staying out of prison. The state Department of Corrections and the Parole Board on Tuesday announced a statewide Safe Return Initiative. The program will be offered Aug. 24...
Unity man, 2 sons accused of igniting fireworks that caught neighbor’s house on fire
An amateur July 4 fireworks display that went awry in Unity and allegedly set fire to a home resulted in charges against a man and his two adult sons. State police filed multiple criminal complaints this week against John O. Brophy, 54, of 1307 Heritage Drive, located the Lawson Heights...
Manor man accused of exposing himself to girl over 3 years
A 10-year-old Westmoreland County girl who went to play at friend’s home in Manor told police hours later a relative of the friend exposed himself to her, borough police allege. After subsequent interviews with a child welfare specialist and police, Penn Township police were notified the girl said similar incidents...
