Westmoreland City
CRIME & SAFETY
Jeannette Community Outcry as City Shuts Down K-9 Program Amid Fiscal Strife and Officer Lawsuit
The City of Jeannette has pulled the plug on its K-9 program, with city officials citing "cost prohibitive" concerns amid an ongoing lawsuit over overtime pay. The shutdown comes off the back of claims by Sgt. James Phillips and Officer Matthew Painter, the handlers for K-9s Diesel and Kilo, for unpaid overtime linked to the care of their dogs – care which they aver took up to an hour extra each day, as reported by TribLive.
Plum man discharged from hospital after Trump shooting
A Plum man wounded during a shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Butler County was discharged from a hospital Wednesday, officials said. Allegheny Health Network released an update Wednesday on both patients being treated at Pittsburgh’s Allegheny General Hospital following the shooting at the former president’s July 13 campaign rally.
Traffic stop unveils alleged domestic incident
A Derry Township man faces simple assault and related charges stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred last week. According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, members of the Pennsylvania State Police at Greensburg were conducting routine patrol at approximately 12:15 a.m. Friday, July 19, on the southbound lane of Depot Street near South Alexandria Street in Latrobe when officers observed a tan Dodge Ram pickup truck.
Pittsburgh-area woman sentenced for deadly DUI crash
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A Westmoreland County woman was sentenced to 6 to 15 years in prison for her role in a fatal crash in 2022. The Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office said 44-year-old Ahna Malik was sentenced to prison by Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio on Tuesday in connection with the crash that killed 57-year-old Dawn Coyne. Malik was previously found guilty in May on all 17 counts, including homicide by vehicle while DUI, according to the DA's news release. The deadly head-on crash happened in Hempfield Township in March 2022. The district attorney's office said Malik attempted to pass several vehicles on Arona Road before crashing into oncoming traffic, hitting and killing Coyne.Officials said toxicology reports found that Malik had drugs in her system, including crystal methamphetamine and marijuana, at the time of the crash. Law enforcement also found narcotics in Malik's vehicle, leading to several drug-related charges, the news release said.
1 killed, 2 injured after stabbing in Pa.: police
One person was killed and two other people were injured following a stabbing in Allegheny County on Thursday. Police said they found a man with multiple stab wounds on the porch of a house along Worthington Street in Versailles at about 8 p.m., according to WPXI and WTAE. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Feds: Drug raid yields more than 100 kilos of cocaine plus heroin, fentanyl from McKeesport, Monroeville, Penn Hills
A federal drug investigation has led to charges for four men who police said were in possession of 116 kilograms of cocaine. That amount is equivalent to more than 250 pounds. Federal officials investigating drug activity in Western Pennsylvania executed sealed search warrants for homes and vehicles in McKeesport, Monroeville, Murrysville and Penn Hills on June 27.
Trump rally shooting puts Pa. gun laws in sights
Thomas Crooks was 20 when he bought, from his father, the gun reportedly used to shoot at Donald Trump. It was a legal sale. Should it be? The post Trump rally shooting puts Pa. gun laws in sights appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.
Allegheny County man accused of shooting, killing German Shepherd
PORT VUE, Pa. (KDKA) — A man is facing charges after allegedly shooting and killing a woman's German Shepard in Port Vue, Allegheny County. John Lee Mack Jr., 27, is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault and animal cruelty, in connection with the July 20 incident.Videos show Mack hitting Donna Hitchings after the two exchange words. Her German Shepard, Lugar, is seen defending her before being shot to death.What sparked the altercation among neighbors? According to court documents, it was music.Hitchings told police that Mack's car radio was too loud, so she came out of her home and asked him to turn it down. She said he exited the vehicle and confronted her.Brittany Iseley said that's not what happened."He was in front of his house in his car listening to a podcast about a zombie apocalypse and it was so loud for her liking," Iseley said. "That's where the problem started. The next day, if I'm not mistaken, is when the brother confronted him."A couple of people on the street said Lugar was Hitchings' service animal. They said she suffers from seizures.
Man shot, killed outside Pittsburgh convenience store
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man was shot and killed outside a convenience store in Pittsburgh's Knoxville neighborhood.Police said they were called to Amanda Street for reports of a man shot outside Triangle Mart shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday. When first responders got there, they found a 51-year-old at the back of the building with a gunshot wound to his chest, police said. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he later died. His identity hasn't been released. Detectives are investigating and reviewing video, police said. Crime scene tape blocked off the front of the convenience store as police...
'Robbie is dead': Trial begins for Munhall man charged in 2-year-old's death
A 6-year-old boy took the witness stand on Wednesday and told the jury how his little brother Robbie died two years ago. “He drunk something and then he died,” the boy said, recalling the night of May 12, 2022. When police officers arrived at his Margaret Street apartment in...
Four Pennsylvania Men Charged with Federal Firearms and Drug Trafficking Violations in Pittsburgh
Four Pennsylvania residents have been brought up on serious charges of violating federal firearms and narcotics laws, as announced by United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan. The indictment, served by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, includes allegations of unlawful possession with the intent to distribute significant quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin, as well as firearm possession by convicted felons. The Department of Justice press release identifies the accused as Derrick Lyman of McKeesport, Kenneth Hamlin Jr. of Murrysville, Daniel Jackson of Penn Hills, and Devlin Clifford of Monroeville.
Detective team grapple with killing spree
“Five Cold Bodies” by K.J. Kalis was the third in the Detective Max Grady series but was OK as a stand-alone. Buckhead County sits just outside of Pittsburgh. The mostly rural county has its share of crimes, but when murder occurs Sheriff Kyler Holt reaches out to the Pittsburgh PD for help.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.