A homeless man from Colorado accused of breaking into the Pittsburgh Brewing plant in East Deer and stealing a three-wheeled pedal bike told police he stole another bicycle three days later to ride back to the facility, according to authorities.
David Austin Jay, 45, was charged by Allegheny Valley Regional Police with a felony count of criminal trespass and a count of theft. He was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond and ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Carolyn Bengel on July 19.
A manager at the brewery along Freeport Road in the Creighton neighborhood called police about 5 p.m. June 29 to report that a man was trespassing, according to a criminal complaint.
The manager told police the same man was in the plant June 26 and was seen on video surveillance stealing a three-wheeled pedal bicycle, police said.
Lower Burrell police stopped the man a short time later but were unaware the bike he was riding had been stolen, the complaint said.
Police said the officer who responded to the call from the brewery June 29 found Jay walking along Ferry Street, which leads to the plant entrance.
After being taken into custody, Jay told police he had stolen another bicycle that day to return to the plant, the complaint said.
