California councilman faces charges
California Borough Councilman John Greenlief is expected to turn himself in this morning to be arraigned on charges alleging that he attempted to steal a newspaper reporter’s car from outside of a Uniontown bar with the reporter’s wife in the vehicle. Greenlief, 59, of 423 Wilkins Ave., California, faces charges of robbery of a motor vehicle, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, unlawful restraint, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
A warrant for his arrest was issued Tuesday by Uniontown District Justice Mark Blair, but Greenlief made arrangements through his attorney to turn himself in today for his arraignment.
According to a complaint and affidavit of probable cause filed by Uniontown Police Det. Phillip Jones, the incident occurred outside of the Highland House bar on Nov. 24 at 1:18 a.m.
City officers were dispatched there for a reported carjacking involving victims Amanda and Jeff Pikulsky.
Jeff Pikulsky is a former reporter for the Herald-Standard and currently works for the Valley Independent newspaper in Monessen. He covers California Borough Council for the paper.
The Pikulskys told officers that Jeff pulled up in front of the steps to the bar along Titlow Alley, and left the car running with Amanda inside while he went into the bar.
While Jeff was inside, a man unknown to Amanda approached the driver’s door, opened it and said, “You are pretty cute and we are taking a ride,” according to the affidavit.
He then entered the car, shifted it into reverse and backed up about 5 feet before Amanda Pikulsky forced the shifter back into park and removed the keys from the ignition while screaming hysterically.
Jeff Pikulsky then came out of the bar and saw the man in the driver’s seat. While Jeff was attempting to remove the man the car, Amanda was kicking the man.
After the man was forcibly removed, the affidavit states, Jeff Pikulsky realized the man was Greenlief.
The Pikulskys told Greenlief that the police had been called and a scuffle ensued, but Greenlief left in Jeep bearing a Pennsylvania license that read “TERRIER.”
A doorman Ray Newhouse told police that he heard yelling and went outside. He said that he saw an older man, who appeared to be intoxicated, punch the victim, Jeff Pikulsky, in the face, get into the back of a Jeep with a “TERRIER” license plate and leave as Jeff Pikulsky was screaming for him to stop.
Jones said Greenlief provided a written statement in which he admitted to getting into the Pikulsky car, but not attempting to drive it.
Greenlief is chairman of California Borough Council’s Public Safety Committee.