Charges pending after police uncover filthy home

Uniontown police said charges are pending against a city couple after police found their children living in deplorable conditions at their Nutt Avenue apartment.
Officer Michael C. Garrow Sr. said police responded to the residence around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday after receiving reports that three children were not being properly cared for.
Garrow said he and Sgt. Wayne Brown entered the residence and found dog feces and rubbish scattered throughout the apartment as well as an infestation of cockroaches.
See Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s Herald-Standard for additional information.

Smithfield man charged with rape

A Smithfield man is behind bars after he allegedly raped a Fayette County woman at a home in Georges Township Sunday.
John Sullivan Pennington, 51, of 189 Blackhill Road was charged Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Randy S. Abraham with rape, unlawful restraint, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and terroristic threats.
According to the criminal complaint filed by state police Trooper Timothy C. Knapp, the incident occurred between 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. at a home in Georges Township.
Knapp said Pennington allegedly raped the woman while repeatedly threatening to kill her and kill himself.
For additional information, see Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s Herald-Standard.

Police seek suspect in high speed chase in Uniontown

Uniontown police are trying to identify the driver of a sport-utility-vehicle involved in a high-speed pursuit in Uniontown Monday.
Officer Ray Miller said the chase occurred around 12:10 a.m. when he spotted the vehicle speeding on South Gallatin Avenue. Miller said the vehicle was also driving erratically and appeared to be trying to avoid police.
Miller said he activated his lights and siren in an attempt to pull the vehicle over but a chase ensued on several city streets at a high rate of speed.
For more details, read Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s Herald-Standard.

Vanderbilt man charged in police chase

State police filed multiple charges against a Vanderbilt man accused of leading troopers on a high-speed chase in Connellsville Township early Monday.
Aaron Shane Halfhill, 20, of Vanderbilt was charged Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Ronald J. Haggerty Sr. with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, harassment, criminal mischief, fleeing or eluding police and eight traffic-related violations.
Cpl. James R. Willochell said the pursuit occurred on Route 119 when Trooper Matthew Gavrish and Trooper Fernando Abbondanza attempted to pull Halfhill over for erratic driving around 1 a.m.
For more information, see Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s Herald-Standard.

South Union woman waives charges to court

A South Union Township woman accused of allowing her 3-year-old daughter to fall from the second-floor window of her apartment April 28 has accepted a tentative plea deal.
Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. charged Amanda Lee Palo, 24, of 603 Surrey Hill Apartments with recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child.
The charges were filed after Palo allegedly allowed her daughter to fall 11 feet from the apartment window while she was on the Internet, state police Trooper Charles Morrison said.
During a preliminary hearing held this morning, Palo waived the charges against her to court after accepting a tentative plea bargain with Fayette County Assistant District Attorney Peter U. Hook.
See Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s newspaper for more information.

Uniontown woman apprehended in armed robbery

A Uniontown woman accused of robbing the Sheetz service station at gunpoint in South Union Township this morning was arrested by Uniontown police about an hour after the robbery occurred.
State police said Pepsi Raiet Gaines, 28, was subsequently charged before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. with robbery, recklessly endangering another person and theft following the robbery, which occurred at 3:04 a.m.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Timothy C. Knapp, the incident occurred when Gaines, wearing a bandana over her face, entered the store, grabbed Sheetz employee Arlene Bagley and held a semi-automatic pistol to her head.
See Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s edition of the Herald-Standard for more information.

Carmichaels man charged in pursuit

State police have filed multiple charges against a Carmichaels man accused of fleeing police following an attempted traffic stop in Mather Monday evening.
Trooper John E. Pash said Bradley Joe Patterson, 23, was charged before Magisterial District Judge Louis M. Dayich with fleeing and eluding police, driving under the influence of alcohol, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, possession of marijuana and 22 traffic-related charges following the incident.
Pash said the incident began on First Street in Mather shortly after 8 p.m. when he started following Patterson’s vehicle after Patterson allegedly was speeding and ran a stop sign.
For more details, see Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s newspaper.

Warrant issued for Greene man

DUNKARD TWP. — State police have issued a warrant for a Dilliner man accused of assaulting a woman and her father at multiple locations in Dunkard Township, Greene County, Friday.
State police said the warrant charges Terry Stephen Fowler, 38, of 206 Williamson Hill Road with two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of simple assault, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, possession of a prohibited firearm and two traffic-related charges.
Trooper John R. Simko said in a press release that the incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. when Fowler allegedly struck, choked and dragged Charlotte Morris, 42, also of Dilliner at his home.
For more information, see Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s Herald-Standard.

Dog shot in Uniontown

Uniontown police said they are investigating an incident in which a dog was shot at a home in Uniontown.
Uniontown Detective Donald M. Gmitter said the incident occurred around 11 p.m. Wednesday night when the animal’s owners heard what they thought were two gunshots near their East End home.
Initially, the Uniontown residents, who have not been identified by police, told officers that they did not think anything of the shots, Gmitter said.
However, Thursday morning, Gmitter said they found the animal bleeding and limping with a serious gunshot wound to one if its legs.
For more information, see Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s Herald-Standard.

Wanted man found incarcerated in Ohio

Uniontown police served multiple warrants on a Uniontown man after he was discovered incarcerated in Ohio.
Uniontown police Detective Donald M. Gmitter said he and Fayette County Detective Lawrence Curry extradited Alfonso Pugh, 21, from the Stark County Prison in Ohio to Fayette County for arraignment on two warrants.
Gmitter said Pugh was charged Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Randy S. Abraham for charges related to a domestic violence case as well as multiple felony charges stemming from a drug case.
Bond was set at $25,000 straight cash in each case, Gmitter said.
Pugh was subsequently placed in the Fayette County Prison to await preliminary hearings scheduled for Tuesday in Uniontown.