All charges dismissed against men
All charges were dismissed Wednesday against two Fayette County men accused of assaulting and robbing a South Union Township man in August. Police said Matthew Joseph Brumley, 18, of Grindstone and Paul Jerome Bannasch, 20, of Uniontown were each charged before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. with aggravated assault, robbery, criminal conspiracy, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment for allegedly assaulting and robbing Daniel J. Stolz of Uniontown.
All charges were dismissed against the men after Stolz refused to testify during a preliminary hearing Wednesday before George.
Trooper Robert McGarvey said the incident occurred shortly before 5 a.m. Aug. 15 on Shaffer Street.
McGarvey said Stolz was walking away from his girlfriend’s home when Bannasch and Brumley approached him.
The men ordered Stolz to give them his money, and when he refused and ran from the scene, they chased him, McGarvey said.
After Stolz tripped and fell, McGarvey said Brumley struck Stolz in the head with a 40-ounce beer bottle and then both suspects held him down and robbed him of $1,100.
McGarvey said Stolz suffered injuries to his face during the assault.