May 13, 2002 By Amy Karpinsky 3 min read

Although a district justice dismissed charges against him after the investigating officer in his case failed to attend a preliminary hearing, a Connellsville man may have another day in court. Fayette County District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon has given approval to refile charges against John Charles Sanzone, 64, for an incident in which he allegedly struck another man and then fled the scene. Vernon also said she is asking for a change in venue.

Sanzone is facing charges of recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and harassment and stalking for the Feb. 19 incident. State police allege that he struck Dennis Ray Saynes Jr. with his truck when Saynes and his father arrived to repossess the vehicle.

The incident occurred in the 1700 block of West Crawford Avenue, Connellsville. According to the criminal complaint, filed by trooper Teko Angelicchio, Dennis Ray Saynes Sr., 38, of Lower Oliver No. 3 and his 20-year-old son went to Sanzone’s 1308 Morrell Ave. home to repossess a 1986 Dodge truck.

While they were there, police said, Sanzone became upset, started the truck and pulled out while Saynes Jr. was in front of the truck, verifying the vehicle identification number.

Saynes Sr. said he saw the truck’s running board strike his son and watched his leg buckle as he fell to the ground and was nearly run over. Saynes Jr. was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment of a swollen bladder and other injuries.

Saynes Sr. told police he followed Sanzone to Sparrows Service Station, and he told Sanzone he had struck his son.

Sanzone told police that when the men came for the truck, he wasn’t going to let them take it, so he left. Sanzone confirmed that Saynes Sr. told him his son was hit, but Sanzone said he “didn’t think the boy was hurt,” the complaint states.

When police viewed the truck, they found handprints on the hood of the vehicle that slid along the hood and down the left side fender of the truck.

Last month when the case came before District Justice Dwight K. Shaner for a preliminary hearing, everyone involved in the incident was present, except Angelicchio. Although Assistant District Attorney Robert Eugene Grimm asked to reschedule the hearing, Shaner instead dismissed the charges.

Contacted later, Shaner said he dismissed the charges because the officer wasn’t there. He said everybody was notified. Shaner confirmed that Grimm asked for a delay, and then became upset, saying, “This isn’t news.”

Angelicchio said he didn’t attend the hearing in April because he was dispatched to a call about an 87-year-old woman who had fallen. Otherwise, he said, would have been present for the hearing.

Saynes Sr. said his son, a diabetic, is still having health problems as a result of the incident.

The father said the family was upset that the charges were dismissed, noting they felt it was unfair to their son. He couldn’t be reached for comment after it was learned that the charges were being refiled.