Crime briefs
May 12, 2002 Perry Twp.
Hit-and-run reported
An unknown driver struck a vehicle operated by Francis Lynch, 51, of Belle Vernon who was attempting to make left-hand turn off of Route 51 on Wednesday, state police from Belle Vernon said.
Wharton Twp.
One-vehicle crash
State police from Uniontown said Daniel Komarinski, 19, of Farmington was not injured Wednesday when the truck he was driving drifted off Route 381 and hit a utility pole at 11:45 p.m.
Luzerne Twp.
AVT theft reported
State police from Belle Vernon said someone stole a yellow and white 2001 Polaris Trailblazer ATV from a carport at a home along Narrows Road between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday. The loss is estimated at $3,000, police said.
Luzerne Twp.
Gate damaged
Somebody caused $400 in damage to Theodore Yowonske’s metal gate Monday by pulling the attached wooden support post out of the ground. State police from Belle Vernon said the incident occurred along Upper River Road about a quarter mile south of East Millsboro Road.
North Union Twp.
Road rage cited
State police from Uniontown said George Adrean VonBenko, 49, of South Connellsville punched Keith Dylen Frey, 20, of Uniontown in the face and threw him against a car after Frey almost struck VonBenko’s vehicle from behind with his vehicle. The incident took place 2 p.m. Thursday on Connellsville Street at Braddock Street.
Uniontown
Theft reported
City police said Nancy Davis of 451 Braddock Avenue reported the theft of an iron bench from her porch Thursday evening.
Uniontown
Ladder stolen
Mark Franks of 77 Lenox Street told city police that a 32-foot fiberglass extension ladder from his garage. He reported the theft Thursday night.
Uniontown
Warrant served
City police took David L. Lester, 38, of 79 South Grant Street into custody Friday and turned him over to Pittsburgh police who had a warrant charging him with felony burglary.
Police and a state parole agent went to the Grant Street apartment at 11 a.m. and saw Lester run up a set of interior steps. After their verbal commands were ignored, police searched the apartment attic and found a hole in a wall leading into the adjoining apartment.
After searching both apartments, police said they found Lester in the basement in one of the units where he was taken into custody without further incident.
Uniontown
Juvenile assaulted
City police said Mary Samol contacted them from Uniontown Hospital Friday night and reported that a 10-year-old and an 11-year-old girl on Lincoln Street had beaten up her 11-year-old daughter Kayla Newman.
Police noted that the victim had a bruised knee, a cut and swollen elbow, two bumps on her head and complained about sore ribs. Police said the two girls, who were identified by the victim, will be cited for harassment.
Uniontown
Two apprehended
Leanna Settles and Misty Thomas, both of Uniontown, were arrested by city police after causing a disturbance at a location on Connellsville Street at 2:55 a.m. Saturday.
Settles was allegedly throwing items around and struck a police officer in the head and Thomas was disorderly with police.
Uniontown
Hit-and-run probed
City police are investigating a hit-and-run accident that occurred on Easy Street at 3:43 p.m. Friday. Additional information was unavailable.
Uniontown
Vehicle stolen
A silver 2002 Pontiac Grand Am was taken from a location on Connellsville Street at 4:10 a.m. Saturday, city police said.
The four-door vehicle is registered to Brooks Automotive of Connellsville. Kenneth Holt told police he left the keys in the vehicle and went into a store when it was taken.
Uniontown
Harassment
John Cready of Uniontown was cited for harassment for allegedly assaulting Joseph Petruska at Petruska’s apartment on South Mount Vernon Avenue, city police said.
The incident occurred at 10:43 p.m. Friday after Petruska allegedly slammed the door in Cready’s face. Cready is Petruska’s landlord.
Petruska suffered injuries to his neck and ribs, police said.
Uniontown
Girl shot
Omeda Deeds of Uniontown reported to city police that her daughter was hit with a BB near the left eye at 9:21 p.m. Friday.
Uniontown
Angel taken
Brian S. Chapman of Cramer Avenue reported to city police at 7:16 p.m. Friday that an angel statue was taken from his lawn.
Uniontown
Fence damaged
Frances Lowe of North Gallatin Avenue reported to city police at 2:06 p.m. Friday that a vehicle had drifted into her fence.
Uniontown
Warrant served
David Lester of Pittsburgh was arrested on a warrant after he was apprehended at a home on South Grant Street at 11:08 a.m. Friday, city police said.
Lester, who was using the name David Wilson, was apprehended in an apartment adjacent to where he was staying after he broke a hole in the attic, police said.
He was wanted on a burglary warrant from Pittsburgh and was turned over to authorities.
Uniontown
Burglary
Todd Schroerlucky of Uniontown reported that someone broke into his home on April 29 and took a brown purse containing bank cards, a checkbook, cell phone and diaper bag. The loss was estimated at $100.
Dunbar Twp.
Crash
State police at Uniontown reported that Polly L. Black, 18, of Dunbar crashed her 1988 Chevrolet Blazer into a tree on Thursday. Police said Black was traveling along Ferguson Road in Dunbar Township when the vehicle left the roadway along the left shoulder and struck the tree.
North Union Twp.
Theft
Michele Marie Friend, 34, of Uniontown reported that $240 was stolen from her purse while she was at her mother-in-law’s house on Youngstown Road Friday. Anyone with information is asked to call the Uniontown state police.
North Union Twp.
Criminal mischief
State police at Uniontown reported that someone caused damage to the Coolspring ball field Thursday after driving a vehicle through the grass outfield leaving tire tracks.
North Union Twp.
Burglary
Mike David Zahron, 73, of Uniontown reported to state police at Uniontown that someone entered his home and removed a Marlin Model 25 .22 caliber rifle sometime between April 8 and May 9.
North Union Twp.
Bicycle stolen
An unidentified 13-year-old Uniontown boy reported to police that someone took his 20-inch silver Mongoose Hoop D bicycle Thursday from the Dairy Mart Convenience Store on Dixon Boulevard.
South Union Twp.
Cash, credit cards taken
Betty Marie Dillon. 53, of Uniontown said someone entered her unlocked vehicle parked at Laurel Highlands OBGYN, National Pike Road, Hopwood, on Wednesday, and took cash and various credit cards.
Melcroft
Hit-and-run reported
State police at Uniontown reported that an unknown driver struck a vehicle driven by Edward Williams Sr., of Mill Run, while Williams was stopped on Route 0381 in Melcroft April 12. Police said the unknown white male, driving a silver vehicle, then fled the scene.
Springfield Twp.
Recovered vehicle
State police at Uniontown found a 1990 Crown Victoria, Ford, estimated at $600, along Buttermilk Hollow Road, 2/10 a mile south of Route 711 in Springfiled Township on April 28. Police said the vehicle was destroyed by fire. The vehicle belonged to Springfield Motors of Connellsville.
Luzerne Twp.
Two vehicle accident
State police at Belle Vernon investigated a two-vehicle accident on Narrows Road at Rush Run Road, on May 7. According to police, the accident occurred when vehicles operated by Leroy Bair of Brownsville Paul Selestow of Daisytown collided.
Two passenger’s in Bair’s vehicle, Joshua Higinbotham and Justin Watson, both of East Millsboro, were transported to Brownsville Hospital where they were treated for back, neck and leg pain, according to police. Police said Brownsville police, Hiller Volunteer Fire Department and Hiller Ambulance Co. assisted at the scene.
Upper Tyrone Twp.
Vehicle accident
State police at Belle Vernon reported that Spencer Green of Connellsville failed to negotiate a curve on Route 1029. Police said Green slid on the rain-slick road and hit a utility pole. Green was transported to Frick Hospital in Mount Pleasant for treatment.
North Union Twp.
Giant Eagle fire
A small fire in the Giant Eagle conference room caused the store to be evacuated Saturday morning. West Leisenring Fire Chief Joe Stroko said there were no injuries and that only about six people, mostly employees, were in the store at the time of the 8 a.m. fire. Although the store-sustained smoke and water damage, it reopened about two hours later, according to Stroko. The fire marshal is expected to investigate the cause of the fire today. North and South Union fire departments, Hopwood Fire Department and Uniontown EMS and American EMS assisted at the scene.