Waynesburg man charged with theft
WAYNESBURG — A Waynesburg man awaits a preliminary hearing on various charges, including theft, following an incident in which he allegedly stole a vehicle from a man on several occasions while the car’s owner was out of state, later resulting in a physical altercation with the owner.
Waynesburg Borough police said William A. Harrington, 32, was arrested and arraigned on three felony counts each of theft and receiving stolen property, and one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief following the incident that occurred on April 3.
According to the criminal complaint filed by police in the office Magisterial District Judge Jesse Cramer, police were notified by Daniel Coneybeer on April 3 that his 1991 black Jeep Wrangler was stolen sometime between 4-5:50 a.m. He also stated that the vehicle had previously been stolen and returned to where it was parked.
Police had been investigating the previous vehicle thefts, during which they obtained information that led them to suspect Harrington, the complaint states.
Later that same day, about 3:30 p.m., Coneybeer observed his stolen vehicle being driven on South Cumberland Street in Waynesburg Borough and parked where it was taken from; Coneybeer then confronted the driver, identified as Harrington, who spun around aggressively on Coneybeer, causing Coneybeer to strike Harrington in the head with his pistol, the complaint states.
Harrington was transported to Washington Health System-Greene for treatment and later released. He was then transported to the borough police station for questioning, the complaint states.
Harrington told police that on March 31 he spoke to Coneybeer about buying the vehicle, and that he was aware of Coneybeer traveling out of state. He stated that on April 1 he broke the ignition and took the vehicle to go to work and to a clinic and returned the vehicle afterward.
Harrington then reported that he did the same thing on the morning of April 2 and again on April 3, police said.
Following arraignment, Harrington was placed in Greene County Jail in lieu of $25,000 straight bail. His preliminary hearing has been scheduled to be held before Cramer on April 11.