Crime briefs
July 6, 2003 North Union Twp.
Man sought
State police are searching for Playford Michael Hart, 37, of Lemont Furnace, who is accused of setting a fire near the home of 29-year-old Karen J. Fenton and the couple’s two children.
Around 5 a.m. Saturday, Hart allegedly ignited a trail of gasoline he ran from Fenton’s vehicle to the back door of the 97 University Drive residence Hart and Fenton shared before their separation, police said. North Union Township firefighters responded to the scene and extinguished the vehicle fire, while Fenton managed to put out the back door fire. Police said neither Fenton nor her children were injured.
Police issued a warrant for Hart’s arrest, charging him with arson and related offenses, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and criminal mischief.
Hart is described as 5-foot-11-inch white man weighing 180-pounds with shoulder-length brown hair, blue eyes and tattoos on both arms and chest. He was last seen wearing white “painter” shorts, a white T-shirt and white Nike sneakers.
Anyone with information on Hart’s whereabouts should call the police at 724-439-7111 or PA Crimestoppers at 800-472-8477.
Jefferson Twp.
Item stolen
James Hoyle, 49, of Clarksville and Jason Zelie, 24, of Scottdale told state police at Waynesburg someone stole a 9-inch rear end off a 1975 Ford Explorer truck parked along Clarksville Road at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Washington Twp.
Man arrested
State police said John Perry, 49, of Waynesburg suffered minor injuries when he rolled his 1991 Ford Escort while traveling north on Route 18 at 8:50 p.m. Tuesday. Perry was arrested for driving under the influence, police said.
Franklin Twp.
Windows smashed
Richard Wise of Waynesburg told state police at Waynesburg someone smashed several windows out of a Cook Avenue residence between 1 a.m. June 16 and midnight June 30.
Franklin Twp.
Man arrested
State police at Waynesburg said Terry Tilley, 42, of Glen Fork was stopped at the intersection of Route 21 and a state route and arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol at 12:10 a.m. Thursday. Police said Tilley was released on $2,500 bond.
Bullskin Twp.
Woman charged
State police charged Darla Gavlak, 35, of Connellsville after she allegedly punched Matt Gavlik, 30, of Connellsville in the face around midnight Thursday.
Perry Twp.
Vehicle burned
A vehicle stolen from Antonio Mucci, 20, of Monongahela was found burned along Kerr Road on Friday, state police said.
Wharton Twp.
Injury reported
Russell Bates, 51, of Gibbon Glade was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital after a one-vehicle accident on Dinner Bell-Five Forks Road around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, state police said. Farmington and Hopwood fire departments, along with Fayette and Marclay Emergency Medical Services, responded to the accident.
Springfield Twp.
Children injured
Deborah A. Potkul, 36, of Uniontown and her passengers, a 6-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl, were injured in a two-vehicle accident Thursday when vehicles driven by Potkul and Sarah E. Eutsey, 58, of Connellsville collided along Route 711 and McCoy Hollow Road, state police said.
Smithfield
Counterfeit bill used
State police said that between 2 and 3 p.m. Wednesday, someone used a counterfeit $10 bill for a purchase at Bollinger’s Market Country Basket in Smithfield. State police said the bill is connected to a counterfeiting operation in Waynesburg, and the counterfeiter has been arrested.
Bullskin Twp.
CD player taken
State police said an AM/FM Pioneer compact disc player was taken from a 1999 Dodge sedan owned by Eric J. Cotton, 29, of Connellsville at 6:20 p.m. Thursday while the vehicle was parked at Cotton’s Sherwood Circle residence.
South Union Twp.
Woman shoved
Someone grabbed and shoved Uniontown resident Jessica Anne Abbey at a Surrey Hill residence around 10 p.m. Wednesday, state police said.
South Union Twp.
Car window broken
The back window of a 1996 Ford owned by 50-year-old Deborah S. Rittenhouse of Vanderbilt was broken Friday while the vehicle was parked at the Uniontown Mall, state police said.
Fayette City
Harassment reported
State police said a Fayette City man grabbed Margaret James of Fayette City by the neck and then fled the residence around 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Fayette City
Hit-and-run reported
Someone struck a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier owned by Daisy Huffine, 47, of Leisenring while it was parked at the Fayette City Auction around 6 p.m. Wednesday, state police said.
Lower Tyrone Twp.
Mailbox damaged
Someone blew up a mailbox owned by Hazel L. Newell, 72, of Hulltown Road, Dawson, with an unknown device sometime Wednesday or Thursday, state police said.
Redstone Twp.
Woman charged
State police said Rosemary Michaux, 46, of Brownsville was charged after she allegedly used a kitchen knife to cut the middle and ring fingers of 51-year-old Abe Young of Brownsville during an argument at a Hunter’s Ridge residence between 3 or 4 a.m. June 20.
Everson
Bicycle taken
A silver 20-inch Razor Launcher boy’s bicycle was taken from the yard of Ruth M. Leasure, 31, of 1003 Broadford Road between 9 and 11 p.m. Friday, state police said.