May 21, 2004 2 min read

A North Union Township man waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday into charges stemming from a March 21 incident in which he allegedly fired a shotgun at state police from his apartment balcony. Ronald Dale Fitzgerald Jr., 20, of 234 N. Pittsburgh St., Apt. A, waived 12 counts of aggravated assault, six counts of simple assault, three counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count each of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and prohibited offensive weapons.

The case against him will be forwarded to Fayette County Court where he will either accept a plea agreement or have a trial. He is free on $25,000 straight bail.

“Not guilty,” Fitzgerald said, outside of District Justice Deberah L. Kula’s office. “I didn’t shoot at those state troopers.”

He said he needs drug rehabilitation and was on PCP at the time of the incident. Fitzgerald said the gun discharged, but he wasn’t trying to shoot the troopers.

Trooper David Simpson responded to the original call at 3:55 p.m. and requested back up after he heard yelling coming from the defendant’s apartment, according to an affidavit of probably cause.

Troopers David McClintock and Martin Gonglik responded. All three troopers said Fitzgerald was standing on his balcony yelling for them to come and get him, according to the affidavit.

He then pointed a shotgun at the troopers and fired, the affidavit states.

The troopers then entered the apartment and arrested him.

They recovered the gun, a pipe, a small amount of marijuana and other paraphernalia.

The troopers declined to comment.