Paul Peirce stories, Page 9
Drivers at Smithton truck stop predict Canadian blockades soon will spread to U.S.
Trucker blockades of bridges along the Canadian-U.S. border that forced the shutdown of a Ford plant in Ontario this week soon might spread south to the U.S., according to several truckers who spoke to the Tribune-Review as they traveled through Western Pennsylvania. “I can definitely see it happening here, too,...
Trucker on turnpike accused of driving erratically arrested for DUI, heroin possession
A truck driver from Latrobe accused of refusing to allow other motorists on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to pass and leading troopers on a 10-mile pursuit was arrested Tuesday, accused of driving under the influence, possession of heroin and multiple traffic charges, state police said. A trooper had to maneuver to...
Troopers: Hempfield woman accused of cutting boyfriend with knife in altercation after DUI crash
A Hempfield woman was arrested this week on aggravated assault and drunken driving charges after state police say she cut her boyfriend’s hand with a knife and punched him during a Jan. 31 argument when she crashed her SUV. Jessica L. Fink, 39, is accused of driving erratically after departing...
Greensburg police: 2 men jailed on multiple charges after 8-mile chase, crash
Two men inside a stolen car that led Greensburg police on an 8-mile pursuit early Tuesday through the city and north on Route 119 before crashing into an embankment near Crabtree were ordered to jail on numerous criminal, traffic and theft complaints. Darnelle L. Wade, 37, of New Kensington and...
Deputies seize cache of ammunition, firearms from Sewickley Township man’s mobile home
Six days before state troopers arrested a 39-year-old Sewickley Township man on rape charges, county sheriff’s deputies seized more than a dozen handguns, rifles and shotguns from his home, according to court documents. Steven K. Stemmler, who resides in the KOA Campground on Waltz Mill Road, was arraigned Thursday on...
Route 31 in Donegal Township closed for hours after chain- reaction crash involving 3 trucks
Jesse Bash had stopped his black four-wheel drive pickup truck on Route 31 in Donegal Township Monday to make a left turn into a furniture outlet store where he works when the driver of a tri-axle truck behind him “began really laying on his air horn.” “I was really starting...
Seward man admitted possessing over 18 bricks of heroin and meth after search, troopers say
A 39-year-old Westmoreland County Prison inmate was arraigned on new charges of possessing more than 18 bricks of heroin found during a search at a Fairfield home almost a year ago, according to court documents. Jeffrey Lych of Seward has been a prison inmate since his October arrest by Lower...
Ruffs Dale man accused by troopers of raping unconscious woman, sexually assaulting teenager
A 39-year-old Ruffs Dale man was arrested Thursday by state police on accusations of raping a woman who passed out after drinking vodka with him in his Sewickley Township camping trailer late last year and also having a months-long sexual relationship with a teenage girl. Steven K. Stemmler, who resides...
Troopers: Icy conditions contribute to school bus crash in Indiana County that sends 3 students and driver to hospital
State police in Indiana believe icy road conditions contributed to a school bus crash in rural northern Indiana County Thursday that sent three students and the driver to area hospitals for treatment of minor injuries. Trooper Clifford Greenfield said state police are continuing to investigate the crash that occurred at...
Troopers: Mt. Pleasant Township man jailed without bond for illegal possession of ammunition, firearms
A 10-year-old federal conviction for illegally importing and selling fireworks resulted in the arrest Tuesday of a Mt. Pleasant Township man who admitted illegally possessing multiple firearms and ammunition, according to court records. Howard W. “Tubs” McCloy Jr., 35, of the village of Bridgeport, was ordered to the county jail...
Fayette County coroner releases identity of woman killed in duplex fire
The Fayette County Coroner’s office has released the identity of a 90-year-old woman who was killed after a fire broke out in her Grindstone home Tuesday afternoon. Coroner Dr. Phillip Reilly said Peggy L. Caringola died in the blaze that severely damaged her home on the 100 block of E....
Crews rescue equipment operator who went over steep hillside off Route 30 in North Huntingdon
The operator of a skid loader suffered non life-threatening injuries Tuesday afternoon when the equipment went over a 150-foot hillside behind the Norwin Commerce Center along Route 30 in North Huntingdon, Hartford Heights Deputy Fire Chief Mark Gibas said. Gibas said he did not know the identity of the operator...
Man accused of threatening Westmoreland sheriff arraigned on new charge, pleads guilty to DUI
A 55-year-old man accused of making social media threats to harm Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert and his family could soon be released from the county jail to begin a DUI sentence on electronic home monitoring, according to court documents. Matthew A. Betts was taken into custody Saturday after sheriff’s...
State police in Fayette County investigate fatal car crash
State police in Uniontown are investigating a fatal car crash reported Sunday in South Union Township where a man was found dead inside his overturned vehicle in Redstone Creek. Troopers said Monday that James E. Hayden, 65, of Hopwood, was deceased inside his 2007 Subaru Outback, which was discovered in...
Penn Township police charge North Huntingdon woman with DUI, drug charges following crash
In the middle of processing a woman on drunken driving charges over the weekend, Penn Township police tacked on more charges after reportedly finding three containers of methamphetamine, $1,230 in cash and a loaded 9 mm handgun inside her purse, according to court documents. Malinda Sue Kovac, 24, of Larimer...
Police: Indiana County woman accused of stabbing man during argument
An Indiana County woman is being held in the county jail after being accused of stabbing a man inside her home Saturday, according to Indiana police. Police said they were dispatched to a residence on the 1200 bock of School Street at 12:15 a.m. to investigate a report of a...
Franklin Regional marching band director announces retirement days before Disney trip
Citing ongoing health concerns and family considerations, longtime Franklin Regional School District band director Lawrence Silvestri announced his retirement Saturday, according to band officials. Silvestri’s immediate retirement was announced Saturday via private email forwarded through acting marching band director Nick Nutter to high school marching band members and parents. “Yes,...
2 men shot outside Greensburg bar
Greensburg police are seeking the public’s help in connection with a shooting early Sunday that sent two men to area hospitals. Police Det. Justin Scalzo said the shooting occurred just before 2 a.m. along Pennsylvania Avenue outside the Rialto Cafe bar. “Neither of the injuries are life threatening. We’re asking...
2 reported injured in row house fire in Beltzhoover
Two people including a firefighter were injured by a fire in a row house in Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood Saturday, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety officials. Firefighters and emergency response crews were called to a row house fire in the 300 block of Boggston Avenue just before 5 p.m. The fire...
Lower Burrell man accused of threatening Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert online
A 55-year-old man accused of making threats on social media to harm Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert and his family was taken into custody after a search of a home in Lower Burrell on Saturday. Matthew A. Betts was found hiding in a storage locker at a residence on Lori...
Westmoreland 911: One person reported injured in Rostraver bedroom fire
One person had to be rescued from a residential house fire Saturday in Rostraver, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatching supervisor. The working fire was reported at 2:55 p.m. at 623 Sixth Ave., the dispatcher reported. Firefighters from Rostraver Central were among several fire departments called to assist the...
Ligonier firefighters secure ownership of 85-year-old borough building at auction
There was little drama during Saturday’s auction of the former Ligonier Borough Municipal Building. Ligonier Volunteer Hose Company 1 made the winning $315,000 bid that will allow the fire company to keep using it. Winning the public auction of the 85-year-old building at 112 N. Fairfield St. was a big...
State police: Butler County podiatrist accused of indecent contact with patients
A well-known Western Pennsylvania podiatrist was arrested Friday in Armstrong County on charges that accuse him having indecent contact with patients on two occasions at a Ford City office. Dr. Matthew J. Sabo, 48, of Chicora, is was charged with two felony counts of engaging in sexual conduct and two...
Pittsburgh police say man shot in domestic dispute in Sheraden
Pittsburgh police are investigating a shooting early Saturday that sent one man to a hospital. Police responded to a 911 call for a male shot inside a residence in the 3700 block of Allendale Circle in Sheraden just before 12:45 a.m. and found the victim, according to the Department of...
Troopers: Fayette County man admitted abandoning SUV, running from scene of 3-vehicle crash in Youngwood
State police allege a Fayette County man abandoned his SUV after a three-vehicle crash on Route 119 that sent one driver to the hospital, according to court documents. Michael J. Norris, 56, of Uniontown, told troopers in a recent interview that he “panicked” after the 10:14 p.m. crash Jan. 4...
