Dilltown
CRIME & SAFETY
'In harm's way:' Archived footage shows WJAC camera crew alongside police at active scene
As we continue our look back in our archives, one thing continues to amaze us. News crews had extraordinary access to crime and accident scenes, and even hospital emergency rooms. With that ability to be up close, comes an element of danger. And as we’ve seen time and time again,...
FIRE DESTROYS HOME NEAR HOMER CITY
Nine fire departments were called to the scene of a house fire in Homer City Wednesday night. Indiana County 911 reported that firefighters from Homer City, Coral-Graceton, Indiana, Brush Valley, Black Lick and Blairsville were initially dispatched at 9:20 PM to the home at 115 Pine Street in Center Township, with crews from Aultman, Clyde and Coal Run called out four minutes later to provide additional assistance. Homer City Assistant Fire Chief Joe Izzei, Jr. told us what he saw when he first arrived.
Police: Cambria Co. man charged after puppies left with no food, water for 'a week'
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Authorities in Cambria County say a local man is facing animal cruelty charges after a police response to a medical incident lead to the discovery of multiple puppies in cages at the man's home. According to the affidavit, Conemaugh Township police say 56-year-old Sean...
Pennsylvania man whose fentanyl led to death of 5-year-old sentenced to prison
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A "career drug dealer" from Western Pennsylvania whose fentanyl supply led to the death of a 5-year-old girl was sentenced to prison time in connection with the incident, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said. Albert Spicer, of Cambria County, will serve 13 to 30 years in prison for his latest drug-trafficking offense, which led to the death of 5-year-old Alaia Young in 2022. The attorney general's office said in a news release that the 36-year-old man was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to deliver and other related charges. Spicer had at least six...
PSP INVESTIGATING INCIDENT NEAR REGENCY MALL COMPLEX
State police are investigating an incident that occurred near the Regency Mall complex last night. The investigation started at 5:23 PM near Pompano Drive of White Township in The Grove apartment complex. State police Public Information Officer Trooper Cliff Greenfield said that during that incident, officers conducted a traffic stop in front of Tres Amigos on a vehicle that was believed to be involved in the incident.
Cambria County house deemed total loss after fire
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Crews responded to a fire in Cambria County on Thursday that left a building a total loss. Fire departments responded to Executive Drive in Reade Township around 1 p.m. on July 18 for a report of a working fire. The Captain from the Glendale Volunteer Fire Department said they arrived […]
Crews fight row house fire in Johnstown, police to investigate cause
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — Crews are currently fighting a fire along Franklin Street in the City of Johnstown. WTAJ has learned that the fire broke out at a row house along the 600 block of Franklin Street shortly before 12 p.m. The row house contained three locations and all were affected by the fire. Crews […]
DA: Over $177K in drugs seized from Johnstown home, two arrested
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Two Johnstown residents were busted after task force officers seized $177K in drugs during a search. On July 12, Tauras Smith, 41, and Malik Davis, 35, were taken into custody after police executed a search warrant on the 100 block of Stone Street, according to Cambria County District Attorney Greg […]
POLICE: 7 dogs found in unlivable conditions with scars from fighting
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A South Fork woman is facing charges after seven dogs were found in a deplorable home with scars from fighting. Kathleen Gaunt, 51, is facing cruelty to animal charges after police were called to a home on Grant Street after neighbors reported that they were worried for the dog’s safety, […]
Johnstown man accused of threatening to throw woman off bridge
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Johnstown man is accused of threatening to stab and throw a woman off a bridge. Merle Painter, 49, is in prison after police said a woman came to them saying that he threatened her, according to a criminal complaint. On July 16, officers from the Johnstown Police Department were driving […]
SECOND STRUCTURE FIRE, AUTOMATIC ALARMS REPORTED WEDNESDAY
Along with last night’s fire in Homer City, there were just a few other calls for first responders over the last 24 hours in Indiana County. The only other major call was another reported structure fire along Mahoning Road in Cherry Tree Borough. Cherry Tree, Commodore, and Hope Fire Departments were dispatched at 10:55 PM. Details on that fire have not yet been released.
Cumberland County Prison Inmate Who Escaped Work Release Captured: Sheriff
A convicted felon who was wanted after escaping prison while on work release has been captured, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office announced on Wednesday, July 17. Karl Glen Zimmerman, 62 of Carlisle, was taken into custody in Cambria County by Jackson Township Police, officials told us.&n…
MOTIONS HEARING SET FOR SUSPECT IN GAREFFA KILLING
A motions hearing is set for today for one of the people accused in the death of Hayden Gareffa. Court Documents show that the hearing for 20-year-old Summer Settlemeyer will be held today in front of Indiana County President Judge Thomas Bianco. The hearing is dealing with motions concerning Settlemeyer’s mental health. She was one of seven adults and one juvenile that were charged with coercing Gareffa to leave his grandmother’s home and stabbed him multiple times before leaving him for dead in a field of tall grass off Oneida Mine Road in Brush Valley Township in 2022. Settlemeyer is charged with criminal homicide, kidnapping to facilitate a felony, kidnapping to inflict injury or terror, aggravated assault, conspiracy to those four charges along with statutory sexual assault.
Johnstown Man Arrested In Altoona On Witness Intimidation Charges
A Johnstown man is back behind bars this time in Blair County after police say he reportedly sent threatening messages to a woman whom he previously kidnapped and held captive. Robert Stevenson-Watts was arrested in 2020 after authorities say he abducted a woman and held her in the attic of a condemned home in Conemaugh.
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