Crime briefs
June 4, 2002 Westmoreland County
Fatal accident
A 52-year-old Smithton man died following a two-vehicle accident on Route 31 in South Huntingdon Township at 5:40 p.m. Sunday, state police at Belle Vernon said.
A 1991 Dodge Dynasty driven by Gary Lee Hough was traveling south on a legislative route and failed to stop at a stop sign with the intersection with Route 31, police said. Hough turned west onto Route 31 at a high rate of speed and crossed over the centerline and struck a 1997 Dodge Ram driven by Edward Patrick Zubek, 51, of Central City head-on. Hough, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene at 7 p.m. by Westmoreland County Deputy Coroner Joseph E. Musgrove of blunt force trauma to the chest. He had to be extricated from the vehicle.
Zubek and three passengers, Mary Ann Zubek, 45, Rebecca Ann Zubek, 19, and Danielle Susan Zubek, 15, were all taken by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. Edward Zubek, Danielle Zubek and Rebecca Zubek were all treated and released and Mary Ann Zubek was admitted with moderate injuries, police said.
Both vehicles sustained severe damage and were towed. The Rostraver/West Newton Ambulance, Turkeytown Volunteer Fire Department and Smithton Volunteer Fire Department assisted police.
North Union Twp.
Structure fire
North Union Township, West Leisenring and Hopwood volunteer fire departments were called to a commercial structure fire on Connellsville Road at 8:55 p.m. Sunday, according to the Fayette County 911 Center.
Uniontown EMS also responded.
Perry Twp.
Criminal mischief
Timothy Michael Reckner, 28, of Perryopolis reported to state police at Belle Vernon at 2 a.m. Friday that his exterior screen door was damaged.
Perry Twp.
DUI arrest
Richard Piwowar Jr., 27, of Uniontown was arrested for driving under the influence at a Route 51 store at 1 a.m. Friday, state police at Belle Vernon said.
Bullskin Twp.
Hit-and-run probed
State police are investigating a hit-and-run accident that occurred on Kreinbrook Hill Road at 9:10 p.m. Sunday.
A vehicle owned by Diane C. Kuncher of Latrobe was traveling west on Kreinbrook Hill Road when the vehicle ran off the road, came back on the road and then struck an embankment and overturned, police said.
The driver of the vehicle then fled the scene before police arrival. The Bullskin Volunteer Fire Department and Fayette EMS also responded.
South Union Twp.
Harassment
Harry A. Hill III, 42, of West Leisenring was cited for harassment for an incident that occurred inside the security office of Bierer Wood Acres at 9:05 p.m. Sunday, state police said.
Hill allegedly took Kevin L. Walters, 43, of New Salem inside the office and then shoved him against a door and grabbed him by the arm.
South Union Twp.
Disorderly conduct
Michael Vrabel, 33, of Belle Vernon was cited for disorderly conduct for creating a disturbance at Teletech at the Uniontown Mall at 1:50 p.m. Saturday, state police said.
South Union Twp.
Three cited
Three woman were cited for disorderly conduct following an incident in the middle of the street in Snyder Terrace in Bierer Wood Acres at 6:20 p.m. Sunday, state police said.
Tammy Ermlick, 22, Deborah Ermlick, 47, and Crystal Smith, 19, all of Snyder Terrace, were cited.
Smithfield
Simple assault
Kurtis C. Dalton, 23, of Smithfield was arrested for simple assault following an incident that occurred on Water Street at 3 a.m. Sunday, state police said.
Dalton was involved in an argument with Christina M. Hopwood while they were driving home. Once they arrived home, Dalton allegedly struck Hopwood in the face and dragged her by the hair through the yard and then choked her and allegedly threatened to kill her. Hopwood suffered numerous scratches and bleeding injuries to her face and head. Dalton was arrested and arraigned before District Justice Randy Abraham and placed in the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $50,000, 10 percent bond.
Westmoreland County
Traffic accident
Three people were injured in a one-vehicle accident on Edna Road in Hempfield Township at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, state police at Greensburg said.
A vehicle driven by Robin Heathcock, 36, of Everson was traveling north on the road when the vehicle went off the side of the road, struck a stone wall and then struck a mailbox and paper box and finally struck a metal railing and mailbox and landed onto its roof. A passenger, Thomas Campbell, 28, was ejected. A vehicle driven by Alan Yorio, 51, of Jeannette was struck by debris. Campbell was taken by helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Heathcock and another passenger, Angie Wright, 26, of Youngwood, were taken to Allegheny General Hospital by ambulance.
Jefferson Twp.
Arson arrest
Emory Heyward Walters, 52, of Fayette City was arrested for arson and criminal mischief for an incident at his Lowber Road home at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, state police at Belle Vernon said.
Walters allegedly burned and destroyed his 1994 Jeep Cherokee. The fire was extinguished by the Fayette City Volunteer Fire Department.
Walters was arrested and arraigned before District Justice Wendy Dennis and placed in the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $10,000, 10 percent bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday before District Justice Jesse Cramer.
In a separate incident, Walters was cited for disorderly conduct for making unreasonable noise at his home at 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
Fayette City
Criminal mischief
The right rear panel of a vehicle on Market Street was scratched between 9 p.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday, state police at Belle Vernon said.
The owner is Lisa Lee Major of Fayette City.
West Brownsville
Burglary
Approximately $20 in quarters was taken from a pinball machine in the West Brownsville Hotel between 5 and 11:45 a.m. Sunday, state police in Belle Vernon said.
The owner is Levada Rush, 55, of Brownsville.
Uniontown
Man arrested
Ronald Lee Cole Jr., 21, of Uniontown was arrested for simple assault, disorderly conduct, harassment and public drunkenness for an incident that occurred on Carlisle Street at 10:38 p.m. Sunday, city police said.
Cole allegedly struck Laura Talbert, causing bruises on her face and neck. He was arrested and arraigned before District Justice Randy Abraham and placed in the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $25,000, 10 percent bond.
Uniontown
Car door open
Nicole Furnier of Varndell Street reported to city police at 3:04 a.m. Monday that she discovered her car door was open upon returning home from work.
The glove box was also open in the car. Police said two other vehicles on the street also had open doors. All the vehicles were unlocked.
Uniontown
Window broken
Marcella Heisterman of South Mount Vernon Avenue reported to city police at 12:44 a.m. Monday that someone broke the glass on her back door.
Uniontown
Theft
Charlene Baird of East Berkeley Street reported to city police that the gas cap was stolen from her vehicle sometime Saturday night.
Uniontown
Siding damaged
The siding on an East Highland Avenue home occupied by Michelle Steinberger was damaged between 5 and 10 p.m. Sunday, city police said.
The owner is Larry Georgiana.
Uniontown
Car broken into
Robert Furin of Brown Street reported to city police at 5 a.m. Monday that the flood lights on his back deck were unscrewed and his car was broken into.
Taken from the vehicle was a Nextel cellular telephone and the faceplate off the car stereo. Another vehicle on the street owned by Fayette Resources of Connellsville Street was also broken into, police said.
Dunbar Twp.
Missing person
State police are seeking information on the whereabouts of a 38-year-old Vanderbilt man who was last seen between 1 and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Larry Allen Koontz is a white male, 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds and having a crew cut. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue pants and walking on Route 201. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 724-439-7556.
Uniontown
Harassment
Andre Michael Saunders, 21, of Coolspring Street was cited for harassment for an incident that occurred on Coolspring Street at 12:17 p.m. Sunday, city police said.
Saunders allegedly struck Misty Thomas of Uniontown in the face and threw her to the ground.
Uniontown
Garage doors damaged
Garage doors on Herman Street and Cleveland Avenue were damaged sometime Saturday night, city police said.
Both doors displayed black paint on them. On Herman Street, the owner is Jason A. Donahue. On Cleveland Avenue, the owner is Elizabeth Williams.
Uniontown
Robbery reported
April Boyer, 33, of Reppert Boulevard reported to city police at 1:12 p.m. Sunday that she was robbed while walking near LaFayette School with her daughter.
Boyer said the robber was a white male, between 30 and 35 years old, between 6 feet and 6 feet 5 inches tall, with a thin build, long brown shoulder-length hair, a beard and wearing a white tank top, blue jeans and a baseball cap. Boyer said he held a large black revolver to her back and told her he has been watching her and knows when she gets paid, police said.
Boyer also told police she drank a case of beer and was very drunk, but she could identify the man.
Uniontown
Plant taken
A 4-foot plant was taken from a patio on an apartment building on West Fayette Street sometime Saturday night, city police said.
Uniontown
Harassment
Adrienne Nicole Clark of Lenox Street was cited for harassment for allegedly striking Barb Kiss during an incident on Millview Street at 2:14 a.m. Sunday, city police said.
Uniontown
Simple assault
Nathaniel Jones, 29, of Monessen was arrested for simple assault and harassment for an incident on Coolspring Street at 12:04 a.m. Sunday, city police said.
Jones allegedly struck Valincia Barnes in the eye and knocked her to the ground and hurt her arm.
Uniontown
Public drunkenness
Donald Herbert, 46, of Dunbar was cited for public drunkenness after he was discovered leaning on a wall on the VFW on Main Street at 4:39 p.m. Saturday, city police said.
Two people had pulled Herbert out of the street, police said.
Perry Twp.
Theft
State police said someone entered Craig’s Root 51 greenhouse sometime between 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday and took various items.
Uniontown
Man arrested
Christopher Wooten, 21, of Wine Street was arrested for simple assault and harassment for an incident that occurred on Race Street at 3 a.m. Sunday, city police said.
Wooten allegedly choked and dragged Lauren Farbee. She suffered a bloody lip and hand and scrapes on her legs and buttocks. Wooten was arrested and arraigned before District Justice Randy Abraham and placed in the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $25,000, 10 percent bond.
Uniontown
One-vehicle accident
One person was injured in a one-vehicle accident at the intersection of North Emerson and Judith streets at 10:10 p.m. Friday, city police said.
A vehicle driven by Robin Kemp, 29, of New Salem went over a curb and struck a fence at Ben Franklin School. The vehicle sustained moderate damage and was towed. The fence sustained minor damage. A passenger, Christina Palmer, 6, was taken to Uniontown Hospital for complaint of jaw pain.
Franklin Twp.
Harassment
State police said charges are pending against a Juniata man accused of striking Diane Lewis, 43, of Juniata during a verbal altercation Friday at 12:50 p.m.
Perry Twp.
Burglary
State police said someone broke into Marcels Pottery along Route 51, damaged merchandise and stole money from the cash register sometime between 5:30 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday.
Rostraver Twp.
Two-vehicle accident
State police said Eric McDonald of Smock and Karen Muccioli of Perryopolis were involved in an accident Friday at 2:10 p.m. at the onramp to Interstate 70 eastbound from Route 51. McDonald was not hurt, while Muccioli sustained a minor injury, police said.
Upper Tyrone Twp.
Trailers entered
State police said someone broke into trailers owned by Mary Boord and Larry Bisher, both of Connellsville, sometime between 4 p.m. Thursday and 5:30 p.m. Friday and took items from both vehicles.
Long Branch
Two-vehicle accident
State police said Yukari Omura of California and Rondell Milchovich of Roscoe were involved in an accident Friday at 6:25 p.m. along a legislative route. Neither driver was injured, police said.
Belle Vernon
Monthly report
State police at Belle Vernon reported a total of 664 incidents during the month of May, according to station commander Lt. Sheldon A. Epstein. 140 offenses were reported, 138 of which were founded, which led to 89 criminal arrests. Police investigated 50 accidents, 13 of which were hit-and-runs and one that involved a fatality. For the month, 528 traffic citations were issues, 24 DUI citations were issued and 636 warning notices were issued. One vehicle was recovered and police recovered a total of $9,000 in property including vehicles in May, according to the report.
Cumberland Twp.
Monthly police report
Township police received a total of 111 calls in May about a variety of different incidents, according to a report from Police Chief William F. Lewis Sr. Police responded to three assault calls, seven burglary calls, two criminal mischief calls, eight disturbance calls, five domestic violence calls and three harassment calls. Police made two arrests for DUI, two for disorderly conduct, two for assault and one arrest each for public drunkenness and harassment, according to the report.