Some charges against local man dropped, others held for court
Aggravated assault charges filed against a 57-year-old man accused of assaulting two Uniontown policemen during an altercation in the city were dropped Tuesday. All other charges against Ralph Cornish of 261 Connellsville St., Uniontown, were held for court following a preliminary hearing Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Mark L. Blair.
The charges include two counts of simple assault and one count each of reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, reckless driving and careless driving.
Uniontown police Detective Donald M. Gmitter filed the charges after an apparent dispute over a baby turned into a brawl in an alley at the intersection of Union and King streets behind Ben Franklin School on Nov. 14.
As a result of the alleged brawl, Ralph Cornish’s son, 35-year-old George Cornish, also of 261 Connellsville St., was charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment.
All charges against George Cornish also were held for court following Tuesday’s preliminary hearing.
According to Gmitter, Fayette County 911 dispatched police after receiving calls reporting a silver Mercury being chased around by a black Ford pickup, with reports that one of the pursuers may be armed.
Gmitter said police responded to the school and spotted the two vehicles.
The vehicles stopped behind the school and an altercation ensued between George Cornish, who was in the truck, and Ryan Scott, no address given, who was in the car.
Gmitter said he intervened to break up the fight and took Scott into custody without incident.
When Sgt. Jon Grabiak handcuffed George Cornish, Ralph Cornish, allegedly approached Grabiak and began screaming at him, Gmitter said.
Gmitter said Ralph Cornish then “took a swing” at Grabiak, after which Grabiak used pepper spray to subdue him.
As a result of the altercation, police said, Grabiak suffered injury to his middle and ring fingers on his left hand, and Gmitter suffered an injury to his left thumb.