<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=45t0g5_0vj9HH9R00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=45t0g5_0vj9HH9R00" width="1500" height="1000" ></figure>JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) — A Hawthorn man who allegedly harassed and threatened to kill his father and family in Brookville is due in court on Wednesday.According to court documents, a preliminary hearing for 47-year-old Rocky Ryan Ruffner, of Hawthorn, was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 25, in District Judge Gregory Bazylak’s office.He faces the following charges from three separate criminal cases:<ul><li>Terroristic Threats W/ Intent To Terrorize Another, Felony 3 (four counts)</li><li>Harassment — Comm. Lewd, Threatening, Etc., Misdemeanor 3 (four counts)</li><li>Contempt For Violation of Order or Agreement, IC (Indirect Criminal Contempt)</li><li>Contempt For Violation of Order or Agreement</li></ul>Background:According to the first of three criminal complaints, the Brookville Borough Police Department received a report of terroristic threats from a known male victim around 6:00 p.m. on August 25.The victim explained he was in the area of the Walter Dick Park roadway and a black Hyundai SUV drove past him and headed towards the park. The victim was headed away from the park when the truck stopped approximately 100 yards from his vehicle. The driver then yelled out a racial slur and drove towards the park, the complaint states.The victim said he did not see the truck again, and at the time, he thought it was “just a kid,” the complaint indicates.Later that day, the victim found a message on his landline answering machine that was the same racist phrase that the person from the black Hyundai yelled at him earlier, the complaint notes.Investigators were given the recording and listed to a “distorted” voice use a three-word phrase containing a racial slur. The victim believed the suspect was his son, Rocky Ruffner, according to the complaint.Ruffner was last known to be living in California, but it was believed he might be back in Pennsylvania, the complaint notes.Police were provided with a copy of a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order against Ruffner that was signed on May 2, 2024, through the Jefferson County Courthouse by Judge John H. Foradora, and is effective until May 2, 2027, under docket number 303-2024. The PFA that was placed on Ruffner included two known victims, and was for no contact or being on the property, the complaint states.Police were advised that Ruffner was known to dye his hair from red to black and has been known to have a full beard as well, the complaint notes.On August 27, police received new information that Ruffner had made contact with the victims by phone. The victim reported that the number and voice that was identified on the message on this date was the same number and voice used on the message from August 25.In this case, Ruffner was charged with the following:<ul><li>Contempt For Violation of Order or Agreement, IC (Indirect Criminal Contempt)</li></ul>Contempt CaseIn a second complaint, investigators detailed the voicemails received by the victims on August 27. The known female victim provided police with multiple voicemails. One of which contains Ruffner’s voice saying, “Christ is coming to kill you, you sinful (racial slur),” the complaint states.In another voicemail, Ruffner reportedly said, “God (expletive, racial slur), I’m coming to kill you,” according to the complaint.The victim provided police with a copy of several voicemails from Ruffner, the complaint notes.Ruffner was charged with the following offense in this case:<ul><li>Contempt For Violation of Order or Agreement</li></ul>Terroristic Threats CaseAccording to a third criminal complaint, on August 27, the known male victim informed police that Ruffner called more times since he had previously met with police on August 25.One of the calls was a hang-up with nothing said. Another call was Ruffner yelling, and the victim was unable to understand what he was saying. The victim stated these calls were around approximately 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., the complaint indicates.Another voicemail was left by Ruffner, stating “Christ is coming to kill you, you sinful (racial slur).” The last message that came from Ruffner on August 27, at approximately 7:00 a.m. This message stated “God (expletive, racial slur), I’m coming to kill you,” the complaint states.The male victim said he was able to identify the voice on the voicemails to be Ruffner’s and the phone number was the same each time, the complaint notes.<ul><li>Terroristic Threats W/ Intent To Terrorize Another, Felony 3 (four counts)</li><li>Harassment — Comm. Lewd, Threatening, Etc., Misdemeanor 3 (four counts)</li></ul>Vandalism, Arson Case in Allegheny CountyIn Allegheny County, Ruffner is accused in a chain of events that started on Tuesday, August 27, with him breaking the windows at a mall.Robinson Police say a man, identified as 47-year-old Rocky Ruffner, of Hawthorn, smashed the doors of a JC Penney store at the Mall at Robinson with his truck just after 7:00 a.m. on August 27.Mall security said feces was also smeared on a bathroom wall inside the mall.Later, Allegheny County Police were called to the Uber/Lyft lot at Pittsburgh International Airport for a vehicle fire. When they arrived, they found a white pickup truck on fire. Witnesses told police a man started the fire and had a large knife.Officers approached the suspected man, but he flashed a knife and started running away. When police told him to stop, he kept running but dropped the knife in a garbage can, before eventually surrendering.On Wednesday, August 28, authorities were able to confirm that Rocky Ruffner was the same man involved in the arson incident.He was charged with the following offenses in Allegheny County:August 26, 2024, filed by Pittsburgh Police Department<ul><li>Criminal Mischief, Misdemeanor 3</li><li>Disorderly Conduct, Misdemeanor 3</li></ul>August 27, 2024, filed by Robinson Township Police Department<ul><li>Criminal Mischief, Felony 3 (two counts)</li><li>Criminal Mischief, Summary (two counts)</li><li>Reckless Driving, Summary</li><li>Accidents Involving Damage to Unattended Vehicle, Summary</li></ul>August 27, 2024, filed by Allegheny County Police Department<ul><li>Arson — Failure to Control or Report Dangerous Fire, Misdemeanor 1</li><li>Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2</li><li>Resisting Arrest, Misdemeanor 2</li><li>Evading Arrest or Detention on Foot, Misdemeanor 2</li><li>Escape, Misdemeanor 2</li></ul>Ruffner is currently in Allegheny County Jail awaiting preliminary hearings on the above cases.</div></body>

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Hawthorn Man Accused of Harassing, Threatening to Kill Family Faces Hearing Today

JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) — A Hawthorn man who allegedly harassed and threatened to kill his father and family in Brookville is due in court on Wednesday. According to court documents, a preliminary hearing for 47-year-old Rocky Ryan Ruffner, of Hawthorn, was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 25, in District Judge Gregory Bazylak’s office.