Man charged in assault case
REDSTONE TWP. – A Cardale man accused of threatening to shoot his grandfather was charged with multiple counts of assault following a bizarre incident at a home in Redstone Township Sunday. Amnie Eugene Lawver III, 18, of 2031 Elm St., was charged before Magisterial District Judge Michael Defino with two counts of aggravated assault, arson, terroristic threats, three counts of simple assault, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, harassment and two counts of disorderly conduct, state police said.
Police said Lawver got into an argument with his grandfather, Clarence Blair, also of Cardale, over the use of an all-terrain-vehicle and threatened to shoot him, threatened to injure himself with a knife and threatened to “blow up the house.”
The incident began around 1:30 p.m. Sunday at 2031 Elm St. when Lawver and his grandfather started to argue about riding an all-terrain vehicle, state police trooper Charles Miller stated in the criminal complaint.
During the argument, Miller said Lawver threatened to shoot Blair, at which time Blair walked from the residence to a garage at the home and locked himself in.
Lawver continued to argue with his grandmother, Hannah Blair and punched the refrigerator and grabbed a kitchen knife, threatening to cut himself, Miller said.
At that point, Miller said, Hannah Blair called the police.
Lawver then went into the upstairs of the home and questioned his brother about the key to a gun safe.
His brother told him he did not know where the key was, police said.
Lawver then went outside and opened the gas valve of a propane tank for a gas grill and attempted to light the gas on fire to “blow up the house,” Miller said.
He then pushed his grandmother away and grabbed a one-gallon paint can and opened it, Miller said. Police said Lawver shoved some Styrofoam into the can and held a lighter to it, threatening to “blow himself up.”
At that point, Lawver saw police arriving at the scene and fled on foot into a wooded area where he was caught several hundred yards from the home, Miller said.
Lawver was placed in the Fayette County Prison on $35,000 straight cash bond.
A preliminary hearing has been set for 9 a.m. Thursday before Defino.