A 52-year-old Churchill man who was shot twice by police in a two-hour standoff at his home in February 2018 is on trial this week in an Allegheny County courtroom on 100 charges stemming from the incident.
Robert Cascella’s trial started Wednesday in front of Judge Mark V. Tranquilli.
Cascella is represented by public defender Heath Leff.
The standoff started about 2 p.m. Feb. 14, 2018, when Cascella’s girlfriend called police because he was “acting like a demon,” according to the criminal complaint filed against him.
Police and paramedics responded to the house on Harmain Road near where William Penn Highway meets Parkway East.
Cascella told police he was upset about his failing health, and police left, according to the complaint. While paramedics were still at the scene, Cascella allegedly hit his girlfriend multiple times and knocked her down, causing the medics to ask police to return, according to the complaint.
Cascella barricaded himself in the house, and police were aware that he had a cache of weapons, according to the complaint.
Allegheny County SWAT responded at about 4:45 p.m. Cascella swore at them, then fired shots at police, who returned fire. Multiple rounds were fired from the front windows and out of the back of the house by Cascella, and police returned fire, according to the complaint.
Ultimately, Cascella crawled out of the front door and surrendered to police at about 6:45 p.m. He was treated for two gunshot wounds.
Cascella is facing multiple counts of attempted homicide, assault of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering and other charges.
