Uniontown man arrested in West Virginia; extradition expected
A Uniontown man who allegedly beat up his ex-girlfriend three times during the past six months is sitting in a West Virginia jail cell, awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania. Charles “Mitch” Smith, 37, of 204 E. Main St. was picked up Monday night on a felony arrest warrant and a Crime Stoppers tip, according to Uniontown police chief Kyle W. Sneddon.
Sneddon said city and state police at Uniontown have been looking for Smith since Feb. 24 when he allegedly assaulted ex-girlfriend Brittany Winfrey, 25, of 31 Grant St., Uniontown, for the third time.
“We sent the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department down a package with photographs and a copy of the warrant,” said Sneddon. “We had information about a week ago that he was in that area.”
Sneddon said Smith faces several aggravated assault and assault charges through his police department and additional assault charges through the state police.
Deputy sheriff Al Kisner said Smith was staying with a female companion at a Comfort Inn just off Interstate 79 when officers knocked on his door.
“A female answered the door to the room and officers saw a male standing behind her,” said Kisner. “Police asked the man his name and he gave it to them, and they asked him to step out into the hall.”
Kisner said that after police had searched Smith and began handcuffing him, Smith decided to make a break for it.
“He tried to make a run for it, but police caught him at the end of the hallway,” said Kisner. “He was arrested on the warrant from Pennsylvania and transported to the North Central Regional Jail and held without bond.”
Kisner said Smith would remain in jail for up to 30 days unless he agrees to voluntarily return to Pennsylvania. Kisner said if Smith doesn’t agree to waive extradition, then Gov. Ed Rendell can send a warrant to West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise and Wise can then authorize the return of Smith to Pennsylvania.
Police said Smith punched Winfrey several times in the head and face, pushed her to the ground and kicked and punched her in the stomach and back before stealing her purse on Feb. 24.
Winfrey was taken to Uniontown Hospital, where she was treated for head and face injuries, following the incident.
Winfrey’s father, Ebenezer Winfrey, said Smith’s capture Monday was “a weight off my shoulders. I hope the police keep him for 35 or 40 years. We’ve been going through this since August, and it’s almost been too much.”