Connellsville man jailed
CONNELLSVILLE – A city man accused of burglarizing the city rail yard and a construction site was jailed Thursday after being arraigned on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. Jay S. Shipley, 25, of 603 W. Crawford Ave., is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief in connection with the April 23 burglary of the CSX Railroad office located on West Gibson Avenue. He is similarly charged in connection with the June 8 break-in at the Widewaters Commons construction site along Route 201.
According to the criminal complaint filed by city police, information was received from a resident that a large number of tools and a television were found in a nearby wooded area adjacent to his home.
Police said that the items included a dolly with two chain saws, television, a cutting tool with eight cutting discs, hip boots, a metal cutter and metal, aluminum and copper pipes.
Most items, said police, were identified as equipment belonging to the CSX Railroad.
During further investigation, police said that it was discovered that the CSX office had been forcibly entered, the building ransacked and the items removed through a chain-link fence that had been cut.
Police estimated the value of the equipment at $1,200 and property damage at approximately $500. When questioned about the incident, police said that Shipley allegedly gave both verbal and written statements concerning his involvement in the crime.
In the second incident, police said Shipley allegedly entered the Widewaters construction site and forcibly entered a trailer and storage sheds and removed a chop saw, laser level with tripod, two hammer drills, two Milwaukee power saws and various hand tools. The equipment was valued at $5,000 with property damaged estimated at $100.
Police said that Shipley allegedly admitted to removing the items. The equipment was not recovered.
Shipley was arraigned by District Magisterial Judge Ronald Haggerty and lodged in Fayette County Prison after failing to post the separate $5,000 straight cash bond for the two incidents.
An Aug. 16 preliminary hearing will be held before District Magisterial Judge Robert Breakiron.