Man charged with multiple thefts after crashing stolen school vehicle
A Uniontown man was found with stolen property after he allegedly crashed a vehicle stolen from the Laurel Highlands School District and fled.
Christopher Lee Sammut, 31, and April Dawn Murray, 27, of Smithfield are both facing charges after they allegedly returned to the scene of the crash that occurred earlier that day.
Joseph Smochinsky of Walnut Hill Road told police he woke up at 5 a.m. Friday to discover a vehicle belonging to the school was stolen and his personal vehicle was ransacked. The 2009 Chevrolet Silverado was found with major damage in a driveway along Leckrone Highhouse Road. Police said it appeared that the vehicle crashed about 500 feet from where it was parked, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.
Police reviewed surveillance footage that captured the two parking the vehicle, according to the affidavit.
Troopers returned to the crash scene later that day and found Sammut and Murray “exactly where the vehicle had crashed,” the affidavit said.
Police said Sammut appeared to be intoxicated and had grass and mud on his clothes. Troopers asked Sammut to empty his pockets and found a speaker and other items that were allegedly stolen from another vehicle the night before. Sammut told police there was a warrant for his arrest, according to court documents.
Murray told police Sammut picked her up in the truck and later crashed. She said the two then hid in the woods. While police were questioning Murray, Sammut allegedly ran into the woods again, leading police on a foot chase. He was later taken into custody.
Other stolen items with a total value of more than $500 were found in the vehicle, including more than 200 beers, a car radio, cash and tools that were reported stolen from a garage Friday morning.
Sammut is charged with burglary, escape, driving under the influence, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, three counts of receiving stolen property and two counts of theft. He is lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $100,000 bond.
Murray is charged with conspiracy to commit theft and two counts of receiving stolen property. She is lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $50,000 bond.