Tony LaRussa stories, Page 15
2 men killed in shooting at Uniontown tavern
Two men were shot to death at a Uniontown tavern early Wednesday, authorities said. The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. at the Elias Sails Inn in the 200 block of North Gallatin Avenue, according to a 911 dispatcher. Police identified the victims as Darrell Gregg, 32, and Tommy Stargell Jr.,...
Mother of suicide victim files wrongful death lawsuit against Washington Township, 2 officers
The mother of a 25-year-old man who took his own life in 2021 filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit accusing two Washington Township police officers of ignoring signs that her son wanted to harm himself when they arrested him on suspicion of DUI. Instead of arranging for medical and mental...
Toy maker Funko dumps $30M in dolls to cut inventory
A toy maker known for its line of big-headed pop culture dolls depicting characters from film, TV and animation is planning to toss out about $30 million worth of the collectables to deal with some of the financial losses it is experiencing. Funko Inc. reported last week that it suffered...
Mon Incline reopens after 7 months of upgrades
The Monongahela Incline was reopened at 7 a.m. Monday after having been shut down since Aug. 1. Mechanical issues delayed plans to restart service at 5:30 a.m., according to a spokesman for Pittsburgh Regional Transit. The incline has been undergoing a $8.2 million renovation project to modernize the mechanical controls...
1 man, 2 dogs die in North Fayette mobile home fire
One person died in a fire at a mobile home early Monday in North Fayette. The fire broke out shortly after 12:30 a.m. in the 200 block of Valley View Drive, authorities said. Firefighters reported seeing heavy smoke and flames coming from the building when they arrived on scene and...
Police: Pair spotted clearing out North Buffalo garage jailed on felony burglary charges
Two people were arrested on burglary charges after a North Buffalo police officer noticed a strange vehicle parked outside a home and saw the pair carrying items out of the garage. Ivan Dwight Shankle, 45, of the 900 block of East First Street in Rural Valley, and Meranda Slagle, 18,...
Cheswick man who pleaded guilty in 2020 to breaking infant’s legs arrested in FBI child sex sting
A Cheswick man who pleaded guilty in 2020 to assaulting an infant by breaking both of her legs and causing injuries to her face is accused of sending sexually explicit messages, photos and a video to an undercover agent pretending to be a 14-year-old girl on a social media site....
Police accuse man of assaulting Vandergrift woman, stealing her debit card, car
Vandergrift police accused a man of slapping his former girlfriend in the face and stealing her debit card and vehicle when she refused to give him $50. Ramon Juan Sims Jr., 26, formerly of Lincoln Avenue in Springdale but now homeless, was charged with a felony count of robbery along...
Multiple felony charges filed against Cheswick man accused of being serial shoplifter at Walmart
A Cheswick man with more than a dozen prior convictions for shoplifting faces multiple felony charges after security officers at the Walmart in the Pittsburgh Mills complex told police they tracked a series of thefts to him. Joseph William Zalin, 43, of the 1200 block of Linden Street was charged...
Woman accused of punching Allegheny Valley Hospital guard, biting second one arrested on felony charges
A New Kensington woman is accused of repeatedly punching an Allegheny Valley Hospital security guard in the head and biting another guard’s arm when they tried to calm her after she became combative in the emergency room, police said. Teresa Cox, 31, of the 1200 block of Kenneth Avenue was...
New Kensington woman accused of letting toddler eat pot-laced candy to stand trial
A New Kensington woman accused of letting her toddler become intoxicated by eating cannabis- laced candy has been ordered to stand trial on a felony charge. Kasey Lynne Condon, 31, of the 800 block of Franklin Street was charged Jan. 17 with felony child endangerment along with a count of reckless...
Greensburg man accused of sexually assaulting child in New Kensington faces felony charges
A 24-year-old Greensburg man has been accused of sexually assaulting a child in New Kensington starting when he was 17 years old and the child was 9, according to investigators. Nicholas Thomas Sales, 24, of the 400 block of South Urania Avenue was charged with two felony counts each of...
Lower Burrell man accused of intentionally crashing into vehicle during road rage incident
Lower Burrell police arrested a man after a motorist accused him of purposely crashing into his vehicle during a road rage incident and then fleeing, according to authorities. Gregory Thomas Costanzo, 60, of the 100 block of Caribou Circle in Lower Burrell was charged with a felony count of aggravated...
Police: New Kensington woman arrested after 1-year-old tests positive for drugs
A New Kensington woman was arrested after traces of cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs were found in her 1-year-old daughter’s urine, according to investigators. Caroline Willa Cramer, 33, of Fifth Avenue was charged with a felony count of endangering the welfare of children. She is being detained in the Westmoreland...
West Deer police say convict out on probation had 2 pistols, 1,300 rounds of ammo, pot inside home
A convicted felon who was arrested for violating his probation faces additional charges after West Deer police said they found two pistols, more than 1,300 rounds of ammunition and marijuana in his house. Shawn Dewayne Daniels, 41, of the 2400 block of Saxonburg Boulevard in West Deer was charged with...
Suspect charged with threatening to kill New Kensington victims if they testified against him
Police say Jerry Lavelle Hardy didn’t want the victims of his alleged crimes to testify against him in court, so he threatened to kill them. Hardy, 48, of Stratford Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Friendship neighborhood was scheduled for a hearing before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. on Thursday...
No suspects found when SWAT team enters North Braddock house where home invasion reported
An Allegheny County Police SWAT team responded to a home on Sunday afternoon in North Braddock after a man reported that a home invasion was taking place, according to authorities. At the request of borough police, county SWAT officers and emergency medical services were dispatched to a home at around...
District plan calls for gradual return for Westinghouse students in wake of shooting that left 4 teens injured
Students who attend a Pittsburgh school where four students were shot last Tuesday will return to classes over the course of the coming week, school officials announced Sunday. A “phased-in” approach will be used this week to gradually return students to Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, officials said....
Birds of a feather flock together at Harrison Hills Park for annual Great Backyard Bird Count
Like most birding enthusiasts, Jessica Lakari looks forward to every chance to get out in the woods to glimpse the colorful and often complex behavior of winged creatures. So when birders from around the Alle-Kiski Valley gathered at Harrison Hill Park this weekend for the Great Backyard Bird Count, she...
County homicide detectives seek tips about man found shot to death in McKeesport
The death of a man who was found shot inside a McKeesport home late Friday afternoon is being investigated as a homicide, according to authorities. Officers were dispatched around 5:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 to the 2000 block of Jenny Lind Street for the shooting. County police said first responders...
Homeless man accused of robbing Harrison Sunoco at knifepoint is jailed without bond
A district judge denied bail for a homeless man accused of holding a knife to a Harrison gas station attendant’s throat during a robbery Tuesday night. Nicholas Dupree, 21, was charged with a felony count of robbery along with counts of theft, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault...
Homeless man arrested in burglary after New Kensington apartment break-in attempt
A homeless man who was barred in 2019 from entering the Central Towers public housing complex in New Kensington was arrested Tuesday, accused of trying to break into an apartment the day after its tenant died, according to authorities. Paul Walter “Charlie” Graves, 54, was charged with felony counts of...
5-year-old Pine girl teams with pet fish to take gold at Betta Winter Olympics
With a little knowledge and persistence, even a young child can teach a dog to do a trick. But getting a tiny betta fish to do acrobatics takes an ocean of patience that begins with getting the cold-blooded creature to warm up to its human trainer. Five-year-old Lily LaBrozzi of...
Man accused of trying to run down manager of GetGo in Pine Township over $6 for gas
A man who screamed obscenities at employees and made vulgar gestures over a $6 charge for gasoline at the GetGo in Pine Township was charged with a felony after he tried to run one of them over in the parking lot, according to authorities. Northern Regional Police charged William Robert...
Harrison woman with previous drug convictions accused of selling crack cocaine after home raided
Harrison police accused a woman who was convicted of selling drugs in the past of being a crack cocaine dealer after her home was raided Friday. Kim Romanelli, 62, of the 1000 block of Idaho Avenue was charged with a felony count of possession of drugs with the intent to...
