Paul Peirce stories, Page 66
Stove dropped on Route 30 results in theft arrest in North Huntingdon
A stove that fell out of the bed of a pickup truck leaving a new North Huntingdon housing plan resulted in the arrest of a Hazelwood man on burglary and theft charges, police said. Gary W. Cawley, 40, was arrested Friday along Route 30 as he attempted to flee after...
Monroeville man linked to massage parlor human trafficking, prostitution case gets lower bond
A Monroeville man accused of helping run a human trafficking and prostitution ring out of five massage parlors in Monroeville and Murrysville returned to court Friday asking a judge to lower his $100,000 bond. Chang Yu Chen, 51, of Monroeville, who was described by the state Attorney General’s Office and...
Dismissal begins at Norwin Schools after temporary lockdown
Norwin School District began dismissing students about 3:30 p.m. Friday after an hour-long delay due to an ongoing police investigation. Tim Kotch, assistant superintendent of secondary education with the school district, said that North Huntingdon Police requested the delay due to an ongoing, active criminal investigation. However, parents were notified...
Munhall man found dead in Pittsburgh after being sought for kidnapping ex-girlfriend, burning her Irwin house
A Munhall man has been found dead in Pittsburgh of an apparent suicide after police spent Thursday and Friday searching for him in connection with a kidnapping in Butler County and a fire in Westmoreland County, emergency dispatch officials reported. John Thomas O’Leary, 52, was being sought for starting a...
Veteran Mt. Pleasant District Judge Roger Eckels retires
The Pennsylvania Crime Codes manual, vehicle law handbook, all of the legal newsletter updates, criminal and civil complaints had been cleared Friday morning from atop the desk of longtime Mt. Pleasant District Judge Roger Eckels. Hanging in front of the desk was a banner reading “Happy Retirement.” An unopened bottle...
Man accused of choking, pulling knife on ex-girlfriend in Latrobe store parking lot
A 25-year-old man is accused by Latrobe Police with choking a former girlfriend and threatening her with a knife during an argument Tuesday in the parking lot of a city convenience store. Police arrested Cody G. Riggin, who lists his address as Republic in Fayette County, Wednesday on charges of...
Feds: Two area women accused of tax evasion in theft scheme
A federal grand jury this week indicted two Southwestern Pennsylvania women on two counts each of tax evasion in connection with a theft scheme at a Connellsville glass recycling company. Tammy Lee Keefer, 45, also is known as Tammy Coffman, of Latrobe was indicted in connection with the theft of...
Suspect in North Belle Vernon stabbings jailed without bond
A man wanted for stabbing three people in a North Belle Vernon bar is being held without bail in the Westmoreland County Prison after turning himself in to police. After a three-week investigation, county detectives and borough police obtained an arrest warrant for Eric D. Cook, 43, of Donora, Washington...
State police in Uniontown looking for missing Markleysburg man
State Police in Uniontown are searching for a missing 43-year-old man who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. According to police, Edward Eakle of Markleysburg was last seen at his doctor’s office on New Salem Road in Uniontown on Tuesday. Police said Eakle was caught on surveillance video leaving the office...
Washington County man accused in North Belle Vernon bar stabbing
Three people were stabbed at a North Belle Vernon bar this month after an off-hand comment was made about a man’s recent release from prison, according to court documents. On Wednesday, Westmoreland County Detective Randy Gardner and borough police Lt. Ronald VanScyoc obtained an arrest warrant for Eric D. Cook,...
Donora man ordered to repay $159K he scammed from retired Lancaster teacher
A former Indiana University of Pennsylvania basketball star will avoid prison time after he promised to repay the $159,000 that he admittedly conned from a retired school teacher. Yancey Darnell Taylor, 47, of Donora, pleaded guilty Friday in Lancaster County to two felony theft counts and was sentenced by Judge...
Jeannette woman accused of hiding hit-and-run suspect in her apartment
Jeannette police accused a 48-year-old woman of hindering apprehension and resisting arrest after she allegedly tried to hide a suspect following a hit-and-run accident this month. Christine N. Tillman of Good Street is charged in connection with the March 3 accident at the intersection of North First Street and Illinois...
State police: Men used stolen credit card, fake ID to buy trailer in Derry Township
State police in Greensburg are asking for the public’s help identifying three men who allegedly used a stolen credit card and false identification to obtain the required temporary registration plate to purchase a $3,740 trailer from a Derry Township firm. Trooper Stephen Limani said the three black males took possession...
State Police Troop A, Indiana station, moving to new building
State Police Troop A’s Indiana station will be moving into a new home effective 7 a.m. Tuesday. Trooper Cliff Greenfield said the station’s new address will be 35 Fenton Road, Indiana, PA 15701. The station is relocating about one-half mile away from its former location at 4221 Route 286 Highway...
Loyalhanna Twp. man, 15-year-old boy accused of shooting 4 bulls, killing 2Video
State police charged a 60-year-old Loyalhanna Township man and 15-year-old boy with shooting four bulls with a crossbow at a nearby farm over St. Patrick’s Day weekend and then attempting to cover up the incident. Shaun D. Ross was arrested on charges of agricultural vandalism, ecoterrorism, aggravated cruelty to animals,...
Paramedic files sexual harassment lawsuit against Fayette County ambulance service
A longtime female paramedic with Fayette EMS is suing the ambulance service and a veteran supervisor, alleging she was sexually assaulted and harassed on the job. The woman claims in a civil discrimination complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh that she went to the Uniontown ambulance station March...
1 injured when car crashes into tree in New Stanton
One person was reportedly injured Friday after their car crashed into a tree on South Center Avenue in New Stanton, according to a Westmoreland County dispatcher. Authorities said the driver was extricated from their car following the crash that occurred about 3:25 p.m. The driver was taken by ambulance to...
4 arrested in alleged prostitution, human trafficking ring in Monroeville, MurrysvilleVideo
What began with neighbor complaints regarding clotheslines and cookouts at massage parlors turned into a year-long investigation that ended Friday with charges of prostitution and human trafficking at five Monroeville and Murrysville businesses. Four people were charged with various counts including conspiracy, corrupt organizations, trafficking in individuals, prostitution and dealing...
Ligonier man accused in burglary jailed on $50K bond
A 32-year-old man who previously served time for a burglary conviction was back in the Westmoreland County Prison Thursday, accused of breaking into a Ligonier Township home. Joshua J. Miller, of the village of Waterford, was arraigned before District Judge Denise Thiel on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, receiving stolen...
Attorney general sues Fayette County furniture retailer over consumer complaints
State Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office has filed a civil lawsuit against a Uniontown furniture retailer, Mundel’s Furniture and Appliance Outlet, alleging it failed to deliver furniture and provide timely refunds. Shapiro’s Bureau of Consumer Protection also filed consumer complaints against the company’s owner, Randolph S. Mundel. According to Shapiro,...
N. Belle Vernon woman accused of harassing ex-boyfriend with 2 dozen phone calls
North Belle Vernon police accused a 44-year-old woman of making more than two dozen harassing telephone calls to her ex-boyfriend at his workplace since February. Pamela S. Gamble, who lives in the borough, is charged with 25 counts of harassment by communications and a single count of disorderly conduct in...
Former West Virginia state trooper indicted for using excessive force on fleeing teen
A former West Virginia state trooper was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Martinsburg, W.Va., for using excessive force on a 16-year-old after a pursuit last November. Michael Kennedy, 29, of Morgantown, was named in a one-count indictment accusing him of deprivation of civil rights, according to Assistant...
Latrobe woman admits participating in money laundering conspiracy
A Latrobe woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh to participating in a “mystery shoppers” money laundering scheme for five years. Susan Rings, 63, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge of money laundering conspiracy before Judge David S. Cercone, according to U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady. In connection...
New obscenity complaints filed against Irwin man accused of hiding video camera in plant
A former employee at a North Huntingdon electrical parts manufacturing plant already accused of hiding a motion-activated camera inside a women’s restroom at the business was arrested again Wednesday on 49 additional counts. Nicholas R. Traill, 32, of Irwin, was arraigned before District Judge Wayne Gongaware on charges of burglary,...
Man faces drug, firearm charges in Westmoreland County after being released from prison
A man who previously served time in prison on drug charges is now charged in connection with the seizure of three stolen firearms, contraband and $20,000 found in a South Huntingdon home. Andre T. Cogdell, 42, was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Charles Moore on charges of illegal possession of...
