Man jailed in connection with burglary
A 46-year-old homeless man from the Uniontown area is being held in the Fayette County Prison after he allegedly broke into a Uniontown home and stole jewelry and cash to buy drugs during a night of excessive drinking and drugging. Herman L. Schreckengost Jr. was charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property before Magisterial District Judge Mark L. Blair. Additionally, Uniontown police Detective Jason Cox, in conjunction with state police trooper George Mrosko, have filed charges against two other men in the case, but have withheld their identities pending formal arraignment.
According to Cox, dozens of items owned by Robert Yarris of Uniontown were stolen from his home Jan. 15 at 14 Carson St., including jewelry, cash, a bicycle and bonds, all totaling more than $4,500.
Two days after the reported burglary, Uniontown Police Chief Ronald Kozak received an anonymous tip alleging that the stolen items were located at a home on Murphy Street.
Cox, along with Kozak, responded to the home and gained consent from resident Linda Lancaster to search the residence, Cox said.
Police did not find any of the stolen items.
On Thursday, Cox said Lancaster came to the city police station and gave a written statement to police regarding the burglary on Jan. 15.
According to her statement, Schreckengost, along with the two unidentified men, came to her home on Murphy Street the evening of Jan. 15 with a fifth of rum, Cox said. The three men then began to smoke crack cocaine and drink alcohol for several hours. During the night, Cox said, the men began to talk about the Yarris home on Carson Street, noting that no one was home.
The three men made repeated trips to the home throughout the evening, with a final trip to the home between 1 and 2 a.m. Jan. 16, Lancaster allegedly told Cox, returning with multiple stolen items.
Once at Lancaster’s home, the three made numerous telephone calls to try and sell the stolen items for drugs, Cox said.
One of the men then left the home to purchase drugs and then came back. The group then smoked more crack cocaine, Cox said.
According to Lancaster, the men then allegedly continued to sell the items throughout the morning to get more money for drugs, Cox said.
Cox and Mrosko took Schreckengost into custody at a home on Coolspring Street at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, police said.
Schreckengost was placed in the Fayette County Prison on $50,000 bond.