Madasyn Lee stories, Page 26
Private criminal complaints bypass police as cases head to courtVideo
In August 2018, a woman directly asked prosecutors to charge her ex-boyfriend, a resident of McKeesport, with witness intimidation. She accused the man of threatening to come to her apartment, kick in the door and kill her or throw bricks through her windows. She said he wanted her to drop...
Police: Vandergrift man admits stealing $4K in guns, jewelry, cash from Frazer home
Police say a Vandergrift man told them he broke into a Frazer home on Wednesday and stole $4,000 worth of cash, jewelry and guns to “help a friend get money.” When officers found Kevin Paul Pierce, 29, he was in his truck looking through the jewelry he had taken, Frazer...
Desserts sold by Allderdice student being tested for pot
An Allderdice High School student is suspected of selling Rice Krispies Treats laced with marijuana, a district spokeswoman confirmed Thursday. Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said two students were involved in the alleged incident, but only one is suspected of selling the potentially tainted treats. The desserts were were...
Overturned vehicle on Route 28 snarls morning commute
A vehicle overturned on southbound Route 28 in Tarentum early Thursday, hampering the morning commute. The crash was reported about 5:20 a.m. at the Exit 14 on-ramp from Route 366 to southbound Route 28, PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said. The vehicle ended up on its side. There were no immediate...
4 Yough students treated for possible contagious skin infection
Four students in the Yough School District have been treated for possible impetigo since the beginning of the school year, Superintendent Janet Sardon said Tuesday. “The Yough School District takes the health and safety of our students as a top priority,” Sardon said in a statement. Impetigo is a common...
Man, 27, shot and killed while walking home in Munhall
A 27-year-old man was shot and killed while walking home Monday night in Munhall, according to police. Munhall police and paramedics were called to the area of Maple Street and Ridge Way shortly before midnight. When officers arrived, they found a man who had been shot multiple times. He was...
Washington Township lawn mower repair company asks customers for helpVideo
Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact reporter Madasyn Lee at mczebiniak@tribweb.com. When Matthew Pawlowski bought Exton Mower Sales and Service...
Police: Woman starts fire in cell at Harrison police station
An 18-year-old woman is accused of starting a fire in a Harrison holding cell Saturday after township police said they arrested her for trying to break into her mother’s apartment. Police said they received a report around 5:30 a.m. that Syariah Johnson was trying to break into her mother’s apartment...
Police: Woman suffers burns in Carnegie apartment fire
A woman was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital with burns after a fire started in her Carnegie apartment early Monday, officials said. The fire was reported at 12:30 a.m. at the Honus Wagner Apartments on Third Avenue. People were evacuated from the building, and Port Authority buses were brought in...
Police: 75 items worth over $6K stolen from Hempfield home
State police in Greensburg seek information about a Hempfield break-in where someone made off with 75 items, including a hot water tank, black sword and lawnmower. The burglary was reported Aug. 24 at a home on the corner of Steel Avenue and Osage Street, troopers said. The alleged thief or...
2-time Lower Burrell cancer survivor training for 2nd Boston MarathonVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. In 2004, Jill Conroy was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She beat it, and started to run. She’s never stopped. “It was after that that I decided to start running,” said...
Harrison police say woman tried to hide narcotics down her pants
A Butler County woman is accused of trying to hide a pill bottle containing suspected narcotics down her pants. Harrison police said they found the bottle on Crystal Rachele Pakutz, 26, after an officer pulled over a SUV she was in the parking lot of Bird Dog’s Sports Bar and...
Cleveland man pleads guilty to robbing Clarion gas station, raiding Brookville gun store
A Cleveland man who prosecutors say burglarized a Jefferson County gun store in 2017 pleaded guilty to robbery and firearms charges in federal court this week. Rayshawn Patterson, 20, also admitted to two robberies that occurred in Clarion County and Cleveland, respectively, prosecutors said. U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said...
Traffic restrictions to occur on Gulf Lab Road in Harmar
Single-lane restrictions will take place on Gulf Lab Road in Harmar through next week so crews can perform drilling operations for a future project, PennDOT said. The restrictions will be between Old Route 910 and William Pitt Way. They will take place weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They...
Alle-Kiski Valley group celebrates 7th year of thanking police officers
Police officer’s wife Felicia Junod knows just how much it means to her husband when someone shows appreciation for what he does or tells him “thank you.” That’s one of the reasons she decided to start a group that assembles and bring gifts to Alle-Kiski Valley police officers and state...
Harrison police arrest man after claiming to smell pot in his car
A Harrison police officer used his nose to thwart a potential drug deal Monday when he smelled what he suspected to be marijuana coming from a Tarentum man’s car. Police said they pulled over a car driven by Philip N. Narcisse, 44, on Garfield Street at about 8 p.m. A...
Lower Burrell pet-sitting business more than just walks and treats
Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact reporter Madasyn Lee at mlee@tribweb.com. Babysitting cats and dogs isn’t all fun and games....
Recently formed Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department running smoothly
The Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department has been around for two months, and police Chief Mike Naviglia has no complaints so far. “It’s actually been going very well,” said Naviglia, 47. “We’ve been getting a lot of good compliments. (People) are seeing the police cars a lot more. The officers...
Freeport home considered total loss after late night fire
A fast moving fire at a Freeport home late Thursday damaged it beyond repair, the borough’s fire chief said Friday. Tom Sweeny Jr., chief 1 of the Freeport Volunteer Fire Department, said the 2-story house at 214 2nd St. is a total loss. “The fire vented itself through the roof,...
Family re-creates 16-year-old photo featuring Valley News Dispatch
Years ago, the Valley News Dispatch would print photos of people holding the newspaper while they were on vacation. It’s still doing that today. At least in one family’s case. Cristine Kostiuk, 60, of Kiski Township said her family thought it would be fun to re-create a photo taken 16...
Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team helps rescue dogs caught in Hurricane Dorian
The Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team this week lent a helping hand to 20 dogs rescued from Hurricane Dorian when it struck the Bahamas. The team flew the pups from Florida to New York. They were among the 97 that Chella Phillips, a Nassau-based animal welfare advocate, saved during the...
Armstrong County man tells police he’s ‘too fat’ to run from arrest
An Armstrong County man suspected of driving under the influence Wednesday in New Kensington told police he tried to run away because he was wanted on a warrant, but was “too fat” to get away. Now, Danial James Hilton Dopson, 31, of Cadogan, faces charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest,...
Arnold man charged with assaulting woman, leaving blood trail to apartment
An Arnold man is accused of beating a woman so severely Sunday she left a puddle of blood on a sidewalk, according to police. Arnold police said they responded to a reported domestic dispute in the 2200 block of Leishman Avenue at about 7:20 p.m. A caller told police she...
7 face charges in connection with brawls at Harmar hotel
Seven people, including a man who claimed to be a Pittsburgh police officer, are facing charges in connection with what Harmar police described as drunken fights at a Harmar hotel over the weekend. Harmar police said they were called Sunday to the Days Inn about a large fight in the...
More than a farm: Blackberry Meadows in Fawn works with, engages communityVideo
Before Jen Montgomery and Greg Boulos bought Blackberry Meadows Farm in Fawn in 2008, customers rarely ventured up to the fields. They instead got all their produce from a barn along Ridge Road. About three years ago, the couple decided to change that by inviting people up to the farm....
