Crime for August 1
Wickhaven Fire erupts at house
An evening blaze at an apparent vacant house in Wickhaven kept volunteer firefighters from three stations busy as they battled the flames, according to Fayette County 911.
Firefighters from Perryopolis, Fayette City and Washington Township along with emergency personnel from Perry EMS responded to the 8:33 p.m. fire off Middle Street, officials said.
Bullskin Twp.
Autopsy completed
A “cardiac event” was responsible for the death of a Bullskin Township man prior to a fire that destroyed his bedroom at his Pleasant Valley Road home Saturday afternoon, according to the Fayette County coroner.
Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly said an autopsy conducted on the body of Jack Basinger, 67, revealed he died as a result of natural causes before a fire started by his cigarette burned parts of his body.
“It was a natural death due to a cardiac event and the third-degree burns were sustained post mortem,” Deputy Coroner Marisa Springer said Monday.
Basinger’s wife, Nancy, told Reilly she had left the home to run errands when the fire broke out, Reilly said.
The fire was contained to the bedroom, and an ashtray was discovered next to his body, Reilly said.
The fire started around 4:30 p.m., according to Fayette County 911.
Volunteer firefighters from Bullskin Township and Scottdale responded to the blaze.
Deputy Coroner Paul Kondrla pronounced Basinger dead at 6 p.m.
Uniontown
Woman assaulted
City police said a Uniontown man will be charged with simple assault and harassment after he allegedly physically assaulted a woman Saturday at 5:30 a.m. at a Uniontown residence.
Police said the woman sustained injuries that required medical attention. An arrest warrant will be issued for the man once charges have been filed, police said.
Belle Vernon
Men cited
Southwest Regional police said Justin M. Wilkinson, 27, of Belle Vernon was cited for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness and William T. Bronson, 19, of Perryopolis was cited for disorderly conduct after a fight outside a residence at 306 Main St. at 7:16 p.m. July 17.
Belle Vernon
Man charged
Mark Stephen Benyak, 45, of Belle Vernon was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol after police stopped him on State Street at 3:19 a.m. Friday, Southwest Regional police said.
Bullskin Twp.
Tires stolen
Edward Kattera of Acme told state police that his tires and rims were stolen from his pickup truck while it was parked at his Snowshoe Road home between 1 and 8 a.m. Friday, police said.
Wharton Twp.
Cars collide
Police said cars driven by Shane Rivers of Waldorf, Md., and William Grimes of Uniontown collided at the intersection of Route 40 and Route 381 at 5:23 p.m. Saturday.
Smithfield
Vehicle burned
Police said a pickup truck owned by Theodore Shumar of Smithfield was burned while parked at 137 Shoaf Road at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.