Man accused of attacking Arnold landlord after breaking into woman's apartment
Police responded to an Arnold apartment building Friday night after a city officer heard a man attacking its landlord over the phone, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.
Police charged Joseph Anthony Rodrigue, 20, with felony counts of aggravated assault, burglary and criminal trespass and misdemeanor charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and criminal mischief. He is described as homeless in court records.
According to a criminal complaint, a woman went to the Arnold police station shortly before 7 p.m. Friday and reported Rodrigue had broken through the front door of her apartment building.
Police removed him from the building twice in November for trespassing, the document continues.
The woman called her landlord and his wife from the police station, the complaint states. The landlord told police another resident in the building had seen Rodrigue breaking in. The landlord said he and his wife were heading to the building to assess the damage.
Police said they heard over the phone what was described as Rodrigue attacking the landlord, the complaint states. Officers from Arnold, New Kensington and Lower Burrell responded.
The landlord told police Rodrigue charged at him through the door to the woman’s third-floor apartment, hit him in the head and shoved him down the stairs, the complaint states.
At the apartment door, an officer used a Taser to subdue Rodrigue after he did not comply with commands to turn around and get on the ground, according to the complaint.
Rodrigue was evaluated at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison and released.
The landlord told police it will cost more than $500 to repair the damage, the complaint states.
Rodrigue was denied bail when he was arraigned Saturday and was sent to the Westmoreland County jail. Police said he was considered a flight risk, the complaint states.
His preliminary hearing before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. is scheduled for March 13.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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