California councilman arraigned
California Borough Councilman John Greenlief was arraigned Wednesday and allowed to remain free on unsecured bond pending his preliminary hearing on charges alleging he attempted to steal a car left running outside of a Uniontown bar with a woman in the vehicle. Accompanied by his wife and his attorney, Michael Savona, Greenlief was arraigned by District Justice Mark Blair who allowed Greenlief to remain free on $50,000 unsecured bail and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Jan. 13.
Greenlief, 59, of 423 Wilkins Ave., California, was charged by Uniontown police with robbery of a motor vehicle, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, unlawful restraint, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness for his part in the incident, which occurred at 1:18 a.m. Nov. 24 outside of the Highland House bar.
Harassment and disorderly conduct citations were filed against his brother, Leonard Greenlief II, 51, of 203 Elizabeth St., California, for his role in the fracas.
City police were dispatched to the bar for a possible carjacking involving victims Amanda and Jeff Pikulsky of 220 McKee Ave., Monessen. Jeff Pikulsky is a reporter who covers California Borough council for the Valley Independent newspaper in Monessen and a former Herald-Standard reporter.
According to a police report, the Pikulskys pulled up to the front steps of the main entrance to bar with Jeff Pikulsky driving. He left the car running with Amanda Pikulsky in the front passenger seat while he went into the bar, telling her that he would be back in a minute.
Amanda Pikulsky told police that a man walked to the driver’s door and opened it. When she asked him who he was, he said, “You are pretty cute and we are going to take a ride.”
He got in the driver’s seat and backed the car about 5 feet before Amanda Pikulsky forced the shifter into park and removed the keys from the ignition, police said.
She said she started screaming hysterically and begged him to get out of the car, but he stared at her and refused to exit the vehicle. He said, “You don’t know who I am,” police said.
Jeff Pikulsky then came out of the bar, opened the driver’s door and asked the man to get out, but he refused, police said.
He tried unsuccessfully to pull the man out of the car by his shirt. He finally exited the car as Jeff Pikulsky was pulling him and Amanda Pikulsky kicked him in the right shoulder, police said.
Jeff Pikulski told police he got into the car and started driving away when he recognized the man as Greenlief. The Pikulskys then got out of the car and Jeff Pikulsky told Greenlief to stay until police arrived.
When Jeff Pikulsky asked Greenlief to stay a second time, he was jumped from behind a man he described as 6-feet-7-inches tall, weighing 300 pounds and with a white beard, police said. Leonard Greenlief’s citations describe him as 6-feet-2-inches tall and weighing 300 pounds.
All four began to fight and the Leonard allegedly punched Jeff Pikulsky in the jaw. Police said his jaw was swollen, but he refused medical treatment.
Jeff Pikulsky told police that both Greenliefs were extremely intoxicated.
After the fight, the Greenliefs left in a white Jeep with a license plate that read “TERRIER.” Police said the vehicle is registered to John Greenlief.
City police sent a “be on the look out” notice for the Jeep to police in California, Brownsville and state police in Uniontown and Washington.
California Police Officer Michael Garrow contacted city police and said he went to Greenlief’s house, knocked on the door, but nobody answered. Garrow said he would keep an eye out for the Jeep. He called back at 6:30 a.m. and reported that he didn’t see the Jeep or Greenlief.
Greenlief is the public safety committee chairman on borough council.
At his arraignment he answered “Yes, sir” or No, sir” to questions from Blair.
Savona asked Blair to release his client on his own recognizance. He said Greenlief has never before been charged with a crime, is a borough council member and would not attempt to flee the area.
He said he has known Greenlief for almost his entire life and would vouch for him.
Responding to other questions from Blair, Greenlief said he is married with no children and retired after working as a self-employed funeral director for 32 years.
Uniontown Police Det. Phillip Jones agreed that he did not believe the defendant is a flight risk.
Blair then told Greenlief that he would be responsible for the $50,000 bail if he fails to appear the preliminary hearing. He also advised the defendant to seek alcohol counseling.
Greenlief and Savona declined to comment on the case before they left the courtroom.