Police seek man for assaulting two people
State police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a Uniontown man accused of assaulting two Greene County residents with a large rock after a dispute at a gas station in German Township Thursday. Joshua Ray Holt, 18, of 213 Village of Searights, Uniontown, is charged with aggravated assault and related charges after he allegedly threw a large rock at a car on Route 21, seriously injuring two people, police said.
Anita L. Workman, 39, and Nicholas Celli, 24, both of Greensboro, were injured in the attack, police said.
Workman suffered major head injuries and was flown by medical helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., for treatment, where she was upgraded from critical to fair condition Friday, hospital officials said.
Celli also sustained a moderate head injury in the attack, police said.
Trooper John S. Krause said the incident began when Marcie Rapchak, 42, of Jefferson stopped at a gas station on Route 21 in German Township around 1:40 p.m. Thursday.
Workman and Celli were passengers in Rapchak’s vehicle.
Krause said Holt approached Rapchak’s vehicle and a dispute ensued, but police could not be reached for further comment Friday on what was said between Holt and Rapchak.
Krause said Rapchak then fled the gas station heading west on Route 21 but was pursued by Holt, operating a white Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Holt eventually overtook Rapchak’s vehicle and then would not allow her to pass, Krause said.
Rapchak then turned off Route 21 onto a side road in an attempt to lose Holt. Rapchak later got back on Route 21 headed westbound, police said.
According to Krause, Rapchak noticed Holt’s vehicle parked on the side of the road before the Masontown Bridge and Holt standing outside the vehicle holding a large rock above his head.
As Rapchak passed Holt, he hurled the stone at the vehicle, Krause said.
The rock crashed through the windshield of the car, striking both Workman and Celli in the head, Krause said.
Rapchak continued to travel westbound until she pulled over at a service station at the intersection with Route 88 in Cumberland Township where she called for help, police said.
Southwest Ambulance and Cumberland Township police assisted state police at the scene.
Police said Holt is a black man, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds. Additionally, Holt is of medium build and has a cross tattoo on his right arm, police said.
Anyone with information regarding Holt’s whereabouts is asked to call the state police at 724-439-7111 or Krause at 724-415-1200.