Crime briefs
January 14, 2003 Uniontown
Attic fire
City firefighters contained an early Monday morning fire to the attic of Terry Sanders’ home at 64 Lemon St. The homeowner’s 14-year-old son Kevin was awakened shortly after 4 a.m. by the smoke from an electric oil-circulating heater that caught fire in his attic bedroom, according to fire and police reports. A smoke detector activated and Mr. Sanders tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher before the fire department arrived. He and his family escaped without injury. Acting fire chief Myron Nypaver said the accidental fire caused extensive damage to the attic and the rest of the house had water damage.
German Twp.
Fire destroys home
The furnace in Archie Skiles double-wide mobile home along Sunshine Hollow Road overheated and caused a fire that destroyed his home Sunday, McClellandtown Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim Huhun said. Skiles and his wife were not injured, but did not have insurance on the home, Huhun said. The fire started around 7:30 p.m. and firefighters cleared the scene at 11:30 p.m. Fire departments from Footedale, Fairchance, Edenborn, Collier, Adah, Smithfield, Tower Hill No. 2, Uniontown and Ronco responded to the fire along with Fayette and Fairchance EMS.
South Union Twp.
Domestic violence
William Ray Metts, 30, of Uniontown was arrested on simple assault charges for allegedly assaulting his live-in 17-year-old girlfriend and Joseph Hartman, 37, of Uniontown in an Elm Road home at 2 a.m. Sunday, state police in Uniontown said.
Bullskin Twp.
Burglary reported
An unknown amount of cash was stolen and various items were damaged in a burglary at Davies Ford on Route 119. State police said the incident occurred between 9:20 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday.
Uniontown
Assault reported
John Harding, 45, of Lemon Wood Acres told city police that he was jumped and beaten up by three or four men at 10:50 p.m. Saturday when he was walking along Bailey Avenue. He said he was hit several times and fell to the ground, but could not describe his attackers. He was taken to Uniontown Hospital where he was treated for a deep cut over his right eye, police said.
Uniontown
Man arrested
William Stanback of Uniontown was arrested on charges of loitering and prowling at night, defiant trespass and public drunkenness following an incident at 52 Butler St. at 3:33 a.m. Monday, city police said. Police said they removed him from that residence an hour earlier and took him home. A resident reported that he had returned and was yelling on the porch. When police returned, officers found him crouched down between two houses. He was arraigned and committed to the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $3,000 cash bond.
Uniontown
Man assaulted
Robert Mullin told city police that an unknown man jumped from his car and beat him up on Stockton Avenue at 4:52 p.m. Saturday while he was walking from his Wine Street home. Police said he had a cut on his chin and a swollen eye, but refused medical treatment.
Uniontown
Basement fire
City police said the fire department extinguished a small fire in the basement of Robin Hall’s home at 110 Jefferson St. at 7:24 p.m. Saturday. Police said a clothes dryer started the fire and no injuries were reported.
Uniontown
Attempted auto theft
Peter Claim of 28 Princeton Ave. told city police Saturday at 10:38 a.m. that someone tried to steal a rented car from outside his home. Police said the ignition was damaged and the contents of the glove box were scattered. There were no signs of forced entry and a rear window was down 1 or 2 inches, police said.
Uniontown
Window broken
Donald Lynch Sr. told city police Sunday at 10:46 a.m. that rocks were thrown through a window on the rear of his house.
Uniontown
Gasoline stolen
An employee at the Exxon at routes 40 and 21 told city police that a white female driving a white Ford pick up truck drove off without paying for $31 in gas at 5:35 p.m. Sunday.
Vanderbilt
Stolen van recovered
A 1997 Dodge van reported stolen by Ram Industries of Falls Mills, Va., was recovered at 12:44 p.m. Friday at the Marathon Gas Station on Route 201, state police said. Police said a former employee known to the victim left the van there.
Georges Twp.
Charges filed
Criminal mischief and harassment charges were filed against Thomas Edward Conroy of Uniontown for allegedly striking Audrey Louise Schreckengost of Uniontown in the head with a lamp and breaking her telephone at a residence at 233 Amend Road at 7:37 p.m. Saturday, state police said.
North Union Twp.
Men charged
Jesse M Keffer, 31, of Uniontown was charged with simple assault and a harassment charge was filed against William L. Romesburg, 39, of Uniontown following a fight at their Caroline Avenue residence at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, state police said. Keffer was arraigned by District Justice Mike Defino and committed to the Fayette County Prison in Lieu of $2,500 bond and Romesburg was taken by Uniontown Firemen’s Ambulance to Uniontown Hospital with moderate injuries to his ribs and face.
North Union Twp.
One-car accident
George Onesko Jr. of 6280 National Pike, Grindstone, was not injured after he struck an embankment along Route 40 just east of Fan Hollow Road at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, state police said.
South Union Twp.
Decorations stolen
An American flag and a wooden snowman were taken from the Longsite Drive home of Cynthia Maraugha between 3 and 9:30 p.m. Sunday, state police said. Police ask anyone with information about the theft to call the station at 724-439-7111.
Franklin Twp.
Trail lock cut
A padlock was cut off of an access gate to the Yough River Trail between Friday and Sunday, state police in Belle Vernon said. The victim is the Regional Trail Corp. of West Newton.
Jefferson Twp.
Theft reported
Janelle Nicole Merritts, 22, of Waynesburg told state police in Waynesburg that a compact disc player and 25 CDs were stolen from her car Thursday when it was parked at Cosey’s Bar in Pit Gas. Her car was not damaged.
Monongahela Twp.
Vehicles crash
Amber Lee Grim, 22, of Sycamore and Amy D. Gomez, 27, of Carmichaels were involved in an accident on Route 88, about a half mile south of Sugar Grove Road, at 7:55 p.m. Friday, state police said. No injuries were reported. Gomez had three passengers in her car. Everybody was wearing seatbelts.
Franklin Twp.
Men cited
Brian Michael Reinhardt, 22, of Monongahela and Johnny Ray Farrier, 24, of Clarksville were cited for causing a disturbance at the Sheetz convenience store on Route 21 at 2:45 a.m. Saturday, state police said. Reinhardt entered the store and allegedly verbally abused employees and Farrier allegedly used unwarranted force by jumping on Reinhardt’s back in order to start a fight, police said. Reinhardt was cited for disorderly conduct and Farrier for harassment.
Franklin Twp.
Car damaged
Someone hit a car owned by Jeremy Martin Gayman, 21, of Prosperity with another car then kicked the driver’s door of his car at Koratich’s Bar at the corner of Route 21 and Sugar Run Road, state police said. The incident was reported at 2:15 a.m. Friday.
Cumberland Twp.
Charge filed
A harassment charge was filed against Joseph Robert Black, 32, of Bruceton Mills, W.Va., for allegedly threatening Sandra Kay Davis of Crucible with physical harm at 10:30 p.m. Thursday at 304 Fifth Ave., Crucible, state police said. The citation was filed at District Justice Lee Watson’s office.
Richhill Twp.
Mischief reported
Arnold Ray Miller, 44, of Graysville told state police that someone tried to light a tire on his pick up truck on fire at 4 a.m. Saturday at 3091 Hidden Valley Road. He reported no loss.
Franklin Twp.
Door mat stolen
Johnella Wise, 25, of Waynesburg told state police that someone stole the door mat from her home along Valley Farm Drive at 6 p.m. Friday.
Brownsville
DUI
Brownsville police cited Michelle Y. Cable of Grindstone with driving under the influence following a traffic stop at Sixth and Market streets in Brownsville. The incident occurred Jan. 1 at 2:37 a.m.
Brownsville
Theft
Selena Harrison of Cadwallader Street told Brownsville police that two individuals known to her removed compact discs from her residence. The incident was reported Jan. 1 at 3:17 a.m.
Brownsville
Criminal Mischief
Karen Inman of 118 Francis St., Perryopolis, told Brownsville police that windows were broken at of rental property she owns at 329 Shelton Ave. in Brownsville.
Brownsville
Pedestrian struck
Edward Moon of the Brownsville Apartments received minor injuries when he was struck by a car driven by John Slosarczyk, 81, of 304 Main St., West Brownsville. Moon received scrapes and bruises to his legs. He was taken by Brownsville Ambulance to Brownsville General Hospital. The accident occurred Jan. 3 on Market Street near Brownsville Avenue at 6:44 p.m.
Brownsville
Stolen vehicle
A 1994 blue Plymouth mini-van was taken from Standard Auto in Brownsville on Jan. 4 at 8:36 a.m.
Brownsville
Robbery
A white male held the clerk at the A-Plus mini mart on High Street in Brownsville at knifepoint at 10:04 a.m., Jan. 4, police said. He escaped with an undetermined amount of money.
Brownsville
Criminal mischief
Gloria Horabik of 405 Mill Road, Brownsville, told police that someone known to her broke the windshield on her car after accusing her of taking money. The incident was reported at 9:46 a.m. on Jan. 4.
Brownsville
Theft
Ester Moore of 1 South Hills Terrace told Brownsville police that $75 and a bottle of prescription pills were missing from her purse Jan. 6 at 7:09 p.m.
Brownsville
Door pried
Police on patrol found the garage door at 321 Shelton Ave. pried open. There is no one living at the residence. The incident was discovered Jan. 7 at 3:33 a.m.
Brownsville
Window broken
It was reported to Brownsville police that a window at 305 Brashear St. was broken while the owner was out of town. The incident was reported Jan. 7 at 8:13 a.m.
Brownsville
Wires down
Electrical wires were knocked down onto Albany Road near the Pike Mine Tipple Thursday at 9:25 a.m. Volunteer firefighters from Newell and Brownsville No. 1 (North Side) closed the road while Allegheny Energy crews corrected the problem.
Brownsville
Theft
Annette Michaux told Brownsville police that several items were stolen during her move from Uniontown to Brownsville. The theft was reported on Thursday at 5:57 p.m.
The missing items include a three-quarter length black leather coat valued at $350, a three quarter length leopard coat valued at $650, a white fox fur jacket valued at $475 and 10 leather purses valued at $30 each, for a total of $1,775.
Brownsville
Burglary
Police were alerted to a break-in at the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy on National Pike East Friday night when the alarm sounded. The officers responded at 11:35 p.m. to discover that someone had entered the store through the back door. No one was on the scene when police arrived.
Brownsville
Suspect arrested
Brownsville police Monday arrested Sam Harden Jr., 30, of 245 Filbert-Orient Rd., Filbert, on charges of theft, disorderly conduct and driving without a license.
Harden allegedly took an estimated $100 worth of aluminum siding, soffit, downspouts and gutters from 131 Front St., Brownsville, that was owned by Ryan Rhodes. According to the police, Harden put the items into the trunk of his car.
According to the police, Rhodes did not give Harden permission to take the items.
Harden was arraigned before District Justice Herb Mitchell and placed in the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bond, 10 percent acceptable.
There had been two previous thefts of aluminum from the Rhodes property, one reported on Friday, Jan. 10, at 6:49 p.m. and one reported on Jan. 7, at 6:50 p.m. In that incident scrap copper was also taken.
No charges have been filed in the prior incidents.
Harden faces a preliminary hearing on Jan. 22, at 9 a.m. before Mitchell.