Law&Order
May 22, 2002 Adah
Electrical fire
A short in an electrical service entrance sparked a fire Tuesday morning that caused minor exterior damage to one side of a double house on First Street. Adah Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kevin Liston said fire damage was limited to the corner of the structure where the service entrance is located. He said some remodeling work was being done to the fire-damaged half of the house, but he didn’t know if anybody was living there. The other half of the house was occupied. Liston said a firefighter from the Republic Volunteer Fire Department suffered a minor injury at the scene. Firefighters were dispatched at 10:43 a.m. The McClellandtown, New Salem and Tower Hill 2 volunteer fire departments also responded to the alarm.
Lower Tyrone Twp.
Two vehicles collide
State police in Belle Vernon said Brad L. Rushton, 25, of Dawson and James W. Rearick Jr., 27, of Dawson collided on Lower Hulltown Road Sunday at 7:35 p.m. Rearick complained of neck pain and was treated at Frick Hospital. Tina Marie Sigwalt, 18, a passenger in Rushton’s car, was treated for a head injury at Highlands Hospital.
West Brownsville
Windshield broken
State police in Belle Vernon said a box from the bed of truck driven by Jay Wilkinson of Jeannette struck and broke the windshield of a vehicle driven by Jeffery Gmutza of New Salem Monday at 6:30 p.m. on Route 40 at the West Brownsville exit.
Uniontown
Theft reported
City police said Sam Simon of 209 Derrick Ave. reported the theft of a Sunbeam Grill-Master gas grill and other miscellaneous items from his back porch between Thursday and 8 a.m. Monday.
Uniontown
Trespasser caught
City police said they responded to an alarm at Auto Land on E. Fayette Street at 12:22 a.m. Tuesday and found a broken window with blood on the frame on the east side of the building. After additional officers arrived for assistance, John Sidor II, 26, was found hiding under a car. He had blood on his hands, police said. Sidor lives at the Rest Haven Personal Care Home and has a mental disorder, police said.
He was charged with criminal trespassing, criminal mischief and other charges.
District Justice Mark Blair committed him to Highlands Hospital and bond was set at $25,000 cash.
Uniontown
Porch furniture stolen
City police said Samuel Abram of 96 Clarendon Ave. reported that two white wicker chairs, a coffee table and love seat were stolen from his porch between Sunday evening and 9 a.m. Monday.
Uniontown
DVD stolen
City police said Michelle Swaney of 92 Collins Ave. discovered at 10 p.m. Monday that her front door had been kicked in and an A-Pax DVD player, 30 DVDs and a silver necklace had been stolen.
Uniontown
Two cars crash
City police said Danny T. Richter, 39, of California Drive, Coal Center, and Vicki Leighliter, 35, of Turkeyfoot Road, Lemont Furnace, collided at the intersection of Coolspring and Thomas streets Monday at 8:05 a.m. No injuries were reported.
Brownsville
Criminal mischief
Mary Trush of 317 Catherine Ave., Brownsville, told police that someone slashed her right rear tire valued at $100.
While responding to the call on May 8, Brownsville officers also spotted the rear tire slashed on a vehicle owned by Robert Ritchey of New Salem.
Brownsville
Vandalism
Someone cut the chain link fence and ripped off a gate at the Fenwick Park ball field on Water Street, causing $400 in damage. The incident was discovered May 7 at 10:30 a.m.
West Brownsville
Corruption of minors
West Brownsville police charged John Patrick Onisko, 26, of 337 Middle St., West Brownsville, with corrupting the morals of a minor for an incident involving a 15-year-old child. The charges were filed May 17.
Menallen Twp.
Suicide probed
A preliminary autopsy report indicates that a Smock man who was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the chest in the woods near his home Monday night committed suicide.
State police in Uniontown are investigating the death and said it does not appear to be suspicious.
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly said a preliminary autopsy report from Dr. Cyril Wecht in Pittsburgh said the man died a gunshot to the chest.
“All findings so far are all consistent with suicide,” Reilly said.
“He was missing for two weeks or so and was found in the woods near where he lived.”
He also said an inquest into the death will be conducted at a later date.
Uniontown
Gas poured on door
City police said Neal Williams of 11 Summit Ave. discovered Monday at 7:35 p.m. that gasoline had been poured on his garage door and a trail of gas led from the door to an alley.
C.A.R.E. program
Pennsylvania state police will be participating in a national program called Combined Accident Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E.) during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
State police and their counterparts in West Virginia and Ohio will combine their enforcement and education efforts in an effort to reduce wrecks on interstate highways during the holiday weekend.
Uniontown
Wallet stolen
City police said Trevor Waligura of 101 Ben Lomond Street reported that his wallet was stolen from his unlocked vehicle that was parked in his driveway.
on Sunday night or early Monday morning. The wallet contained $80 and multiple credit cards.