MedleyStory

Amish man, 18, dies in S. Mahoning Twp. silo

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:39:53 -0400

State police said an 18-year-old Amish man was killed after becoming trapped in an Indiana County farm silo Thursday afternoon.

Officials said his 15-year-old brother had to be rescued after trying to help him escape.

Trooper John Matchik said the incident happened on a neighbor's farm where the teens worked in South Mahoning Township.

Coroner Mike Baker said 18 year-old Wollie Schlabach Jr. of Rummel Road, near Smicksburg, died shortly after entering a silo on the Kimmell farm at 362 Sinktown Road.

Baker said the 65-foot silo had been filled just yesterday, and the victim and his 14-year-old brother went in at the top to level-off the contents when the older brother began feeling sick and calling for help.

Matchik said the younger brother called 911, climbed up an outside ladder and entered the silo to help his brother, then had to be rescued after he also fell ill to the fumes.

While the younger brother was able to escape, Schlabach was quickly overcome by the lack of oxygen at the top of the silo and died before he could be rescued. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"It's a situation that unfortunately had gone too far before we were even able to get on scene," Citizens' Ambulance Service employee Randy Thomas said. "Whenever they fill the silos up and blow the silage into it, sometimes it will mound up and create piles inside the silo. In order to have an even distribution of the product, they go in and move it around and level it out."

The coroner has determined the cause of death to be asphyxia due to deprivation of oxygen in a confined space and has ruled the death an accident.

Copyright The Associated Press

Police: Male patient raped woman at Ambridge care home

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:43:45 -0400

A male resident of an Ambridge personal care home has been jailed on charges he raped a 71-year-old female resident of the facility.

Officials said Marvin Lee Brown, 51, has past convictions for indecent and aggravated assault.

According to Ambridge police, Brown followed the woman into a restroom where he attacked her Tuesday night at the Maplewood Personal Care Home.

The woman, whose name has not been released, was taken to a hospital for treatment and testing.

Officials at the care home have not commented on the charges.

Brown remains jailed unable to post $500,000 bond on charges of rape, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and simple assault.

Jeannette teen accused in baseball bat attack apologizes

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:37:22 -0400

A Jeannette teen accused of attacking another teenage girl with a baseball bat apologized Thursday as she appeared in court on assault charges.

Jasmine Henry, 18, is accused of jumping 17-year-old Brittany Williams and beating her with a baseball bat earlier this month in Jeannette.

Williams, who was rushed to an area hospital and needed four staples in her head, has since been released from the hospital.

In court Thursday, Henry said a group of girls confronted her and she went after one of them because she thought they were going to jump her.

“They were all yelling at me and I assumed they wanted to jump me,” Henry said. “I did react negatively and I’m sorry for what I did.”

She went on to say she’s a good person, a single mom and that she just graduated from high school. Henry said she looks forward to putting the charges behind her.

The aggravated assault charges against Henry were held for court Thursday.

Previous Story: Argument over boy led to Jeannette baseball bat beating

Pine Twp. doctor gets 60 days for fondling female patients

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:22:28 -0400

A Pine Township doctor will spend 60 days in jail followed by a year on house arrest for inappropriately touching more than a dozen female patients during arthritis-related exams.

An Allegheny County judge convicted 54-year-old Thomas Tyma of 17 counts of indecent assault and harassment during a nonjury trial in March, and sentenced Tyma on Thursday.

Several female patients testified that Tyma touched them inappropriately during exams at the Allegheny North Arthritis Center in Pine Township. He was arrested in January 2011.

Officials said Tyma will also spend six years on probation.

Police: Man arrested after counterfeit cash was used at Robinson mall

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:56:17 -0400

A man is accused of passing counterfeit money at The Mall at Robinson.

Police said they arrested Kerven Benoit after a Sears employee spotted the fakes.

According to police, Benoit, who is from Brooklyn, New York, passed five counterfeit $100 bills at Sears and Dicks on Tuesday before his failed attempt.

The employee who noticed the counterfeit bills called police.

“He did not cooperate. He attempted to flee, and the officers caught him,” said Robinson Township police chief Dale Vietmeir.

Benoit is expected to be charged with theft and forgery.

Health care aide accused of stealing jewelry from woman, 90, in New Castle

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:48:24 -0400

Police arrested a woman accused of stealing jewelry from a 90-year-old woman in New Castle.

Authorities said Jennifer Park, 34, was arrested after a woman reported to police that her mother’s jewelry was missing after Park, who works as a health aid, visited her home in April.

The daughter told police diamond earrings, dangling earrings and two expensive rings were missing.

“Basically, she went to elderly people’s houses and helped them out during the day,” New Castle Police Sgt. David Cumo said. “Then, there were sales transactions from Greek's House of Gold, where she sold some of the jewelry.”

According to police, officers were able to link Park to the stolen jewelry because it was sold to a New Castle jewelry store days after the incident.

Officials from the home health care company that Park worked for said she has since been fired. The director also said Park passed a mandatory background check.

Park was charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. She remains in the Lawrence County Jail with bail set at $2,000.

Authorities are asking anyone who thinks they may have fallen victim to a similar scheme to contact police.

Woman who lost leg in February hit-and-run talks to Channel 11

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:24:56 -0400

Tammy Roberts lost her leg in a hit-and-run accident in Tarentum last February, but she refuses to feel sorry for herself.

"I cry and I stomp my feet. But then I wipe my tears off and say, 'Knock it off Tammy. Knock it off.' I just know things are going to get better and I'm going to get tougher," Roberts said.

The East Deer woman said she and her boyfriend Pete Gearhart had just had dinner at the Creighton Hotel and were walking home when the unthinkable happened.

Police said a man driving a purple Mustang was speeding along Freeport Road, hit Roberts and pinned her to some stairs of a building.

"I looked down at my leg that night and I seen I lost it already. It was awful," Roberts said.

Gearhart said he and another stranger who witnessed the accident immediately jumped into action.

"I look up and this young man had already had his belt off and around her leg. I looked at him and I said, 'Do you know what you're doing?' He said, 'Yes sir. I'm an ex-Marine," said Gearhart.

"I'm very grateful for that young man. He and Pete are my heroes," Robert said.

At the hospital, Gearhart said he was told by doctors that Roberts' leg would have to be amputated.

"That was the biggest decision I ever made in my life, to sign that paper," said Gearhart.

To make the situation worse, police said the driver who hit Roberts left the scene.

"I remember the first three digits of the license plate: HJ7. I chased him until he made the turn up the other alleyway," Gearhart said.

Investigators said they eventually made an arrest in the case, but the man hasn't shown up for court hearings.

"I don't understand how he can be out there running around. You know, what if he would have hit a little kid?" Roberts said.

After enduring more than a dozen surgeries Roberts said she now just hopes she can put the incident behind her and return to her job at a nursing home.

"I don't know if I'm going to be able to do that anymore. He took that. He took my life away from me," Roberts said.

Family and friends have set up a fund to help Roberts pay for her medical costs. Anyone interested in making donations can do so through Citizen's Bank at the New Kensington Giant Eagle.

Authorities investigate robbery at Moon Twp. convenience store

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:17:47 -0400

Authorities are investigating a robbery at a Moon Township convenience store late Wednesday night.

According to police, the UniMart on Coraopolis Heights Road was robbed just after 10 p.m. Wednesday by a man covering his face with his shirt.

The store clerk told police the man demanded money from the register while holding his hand in his pocket as if he had a gun. The clerk complied and gave the man an undisclosed amount of money from the register.

Officials said the clerk followed the man as he fled the store. He ran a short distance and got into a waiting vehicle parked along Oakhaven Drive.

Police said the man was described as a tall, white male who appeared to be in his 20s. He was wearing a silver T-shirt, a white winter hat and dark-colored shorts.

Authorities said the getaway vehicle was a white two-door Pontiac.

Although the robber acted as if he had a weapon, police said they can’t confirm if he did.

No injuries were reported in the robbery.

Anyone with information on the investigation is asked to contact police.

Unannounced road paving project causes major traffic headaches in Shadyside, Oakland

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:02:00 -0400

Several Channel 11 News viewers contacted the station by phone, email and Twitter to report the closure of a busy road that goes through Shadyside and Oakland.

Traffic reporter Trisha Pittman contacted Department of Public Works officials to find out why the road was closed and learned that a road paving project was to blame.

People who drove through parts of Shadyside and Oakland Thursday morning said the unannounced project caused them to be late for work and made parking a nightmare.

Rob Kaczorowski, the director of the Department of Public Works, said Bayard Road was shut down from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kaczorowski said because Baird Street is considered a secondary road, workers didn't anticipate a major traffic impact. He said his department should have sent a news release so drivers were aware of the closure.

City councilman Bill Peduto said he, too, received calls from concerned drivers after they were unable to get to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital and the Hillman Cancer Center. Peduto said he requested traffic control from police to help ease the congestion and confusion.

Crews work to rescue teen, elderly man from S. Mahoning Twp. silo

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:59:20 -0400

Crews worked to rescue an elderly man and a 14-year-old from a silo in South Mahoning Township on Thursday.

Chopper 11 flew to Indiana Township and spotted several emergency vehicles at the scene.

Emergency dispatch workers said the elderly man was pulled from the silo, and they're still working on saving the teen.

Details are developing. Stay with Channel 11 News and wpxi.com for updates.

Missing North Side boy, 4, found hours later at grandma’s

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:10:09 -0400

Authorities said a missing 4-year-old boy who wandered away from his home Thursday morning was found safe.

According to police, Lamar Snead left his house on California Avenue around 9 a.m. and was located just after noon at his grandmother’s house down the street.

Latrice Snead, Lamar’s mother, said Lamar, his cousin and aunt had been sleeping in their house. When Lamar’s grandmother checked on them, the door was open and Lamar was gone.

Latrice said Lamar wandered home and said he was sleeping at his grandmother’s house on the third floor.

"I'm just happy he's OK," Lamar's grandmother said. "I searched my entire house, but we must have crossed paths and missed each other."

“I wasn’t hiding. I was looking for her,” Lamar said.

Latrice was relieved during the reunion with her son.

"Thank you very much. My son is safe, and he's OK. I can breathe now," she said.

Officials warn Allison Park residents of recent bear sightings

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:37:45 -0400

People who live in Allison Park are being asked to keep an eye out for bears in the area.

Officials said several people in Hampton Township have reported seeing bears around their neighborhoods.

Firefighters said a bear cub was seen knocking over garbage cans on Thursday near Kirk and Cole avenues.

Bill Vogel lives nearby and was shocked to hear that bears may be roaming in the area.

“I haven’t seen any bears,” Vogel said. “But I know they don’t like to deal with people very much. I think if they do anything they would mess with the trash. That’s why I try and keep my trash lidded.”

Nearby schools and day cares were also alerted about the possible bear sightings. Vogel thinks the possibility of seeing a bear shouldn’t affect people’s everyday lives.

“Bears don’t bother me. It’s deer that bother me. I’m not that crazy about deer because they come and eat my roses,” Vogel said.

Hampton police said they have increased patrol in the area, but have not officially made any sightings.

Game commission officials said bear sightings increase this time of year because of mating season.

Steelers' Harrison criticizes Goodell's handling of bounty-gate

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:18:06 -0400

Over the past few seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison has found himself in the cross hairs of Roger Goodell, for what the National Football League has deemed illegal hits.

However, this offense Harrison has had the opportunity to sit back and watch bounty-gate unfold, and he watched the commissioner suspend Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma for a year.

Harrison calls the entire situation unfair.

"He only gave the team a half million-dollar fine and two second round draft picks, and that's a billion-dollar organization," Harrison said. "But yet you take a whole year's pay away from the guy that is below him and you take a whole year's pay away from the head coach. But the actual team themselves, you slap them on the wrist."

Harrison doesn't think Vilma will win his case, but does see value in the lawsuit.

"It is really a win-win. Whether he wins the case or if he loses it," Harrison stated. "If he loses it, it shows that Goodell does have too much power and if he wins it, it opens up the flood gates."

Harrison and the Steelers wrapped up their first week of organized team activities Thursday.

Mt. Lebanon student loses bid to walk at graduation

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:45:01 -0400

A Mt. Lebanon High School senior has lost his bid to walk with his graduating class after being charged with possession of drug paraphernalia off-campus last month.

An Allegheny County judge on Wednesday denied Mitchell Klemencic's request to stop the school from barring him from extracurricular activities.

Klemencic's attorney argued the 30-day prohibition went beyond the district's authority to punish his client, who hasn't been convicted of a crime. But an attorney for the district said the 18-year-old isn't being deprived of an education.

Klemencic said he's disappointed he can't walk with his class on June 4, but won't appeal. He'll attend Penn State in the fall.

Family treated after rabid bat enters Gibsonia home

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:39:17 -0400

The Allegheny County Health Department said a family of three in Gibsonia is being treated after a rabid bat was found in their home last week.

The bat tested positive for rabies on Monday, so the family is being treated as a precaution.

Health department spokesman Guillermo Cole told Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE that bats can bite people without leaving a mark and that the family is being treated just in case they may have been bitten while sleeping.

Cole said five rabid bats were found in the county last year and, statewide 34 bats were among the 450 animals that tested positive for rabies.

About 5 percent of all bats tested in Pennsylvania have the disease, which is usually fatal if not treated early.

Firefighters battle suspicious Plum Borough house fire

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:12:56 -0400

Firefighters said a blaze at a home in Plum Borough early Thursday is being considered suspicious.

Officials said the fire began in an outside wall of the home's porch on Rustic Ridge Road.

A woman who lives in the house said a neighbor noticed the flames and alerted her of the blaze.

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters continue to investigate.

Idlewild open for season

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:01:43 -0400

Just in time for the holiday weekend, Idlewild and Soak Zone in Westmoreland County opened Thursday.

This year marks the 135^th anniversary for the Ligonier Park.

Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.

Regular season hours begin Saturday.

Mormon softball team banned from Mercer County Christian league

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:57:36 -0400

Members of one church were told they weren't allowed to participate in a Mercer County softball league because of their beliefs.

Players from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Slippery Rock said they were told they couldn't participate in the Grove City Area Church softball league because they're Mormon.

The Grove City Area Church league is made up of 11 teams. Players said when they received word that LDS Church members may participate, three of the teams refused to play if the Mormon team was accepted.

The president of the league released a statement saying, "The GCA church softball league is intended for fellowship among Christian churches. Not for members of different faiths. To call a group who proclaims a different gospel of salvation of Christian church is not only untrue, it is unloving. We cannot do this. We will not do this."

League officials took a vote and refused to allow the team into the league. The league's president said members of the church are still welcome to play in the league, just not as a team.

Water main break in Fox Chapel shuts down road

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:44:08 -0400

A water main break in Fox Chapel shut down a neighborhood road Thursday night.

Officials said the break happened around 7:30 p.m. on Valley Drive.

Fox Chapel Water Authority officials said corrosion in the line caused the break to shoot water in the air.

Neighbors said this was the second time a line broke in their neighborhood in just 18 months.

Crews worked throughout the night to fix the break. Officials said the break was repaired by 1 a.m. Thursday.

Police search for gun near East Liberty elementary school after attempted robbery

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:39:57 -0400

Police said they used metal detectors and K9's to search for a gun near a Pittsburgh elementary school following an attempted robbery early Thursday.

Investigators said a pizza delivery driver was attacked around 12:30 a.m. near the intersection of Meadow and Saint Maire streets in East Liberty.

Emergency dispatchers said the driver somehow escaped injury when the robbers fired shots at his head.

Officers said they searched the area near Dilworth Elementary School for the gun used in the robbery. Police said they later found the weapon inside of an apartment where an adult and two teens ran following the incident.

All three people were taken into custody, police said. Their names have not been released.

The driver was not hurt.

Man shot in chest, woman hurt in Crafton Heights shooting

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:30:23 -0400

Two people were taken to the hospital after gunfire erupted in Crafton Heights late Thursday night.

Police said the shooting happened around 11:45 p.m. on Woodlow Street.

Investigators said a man was shot in the chest and a woman was hit by bullet fragments.

Both victims were taken to Allegheny General Hospital. Their names and conditions have not been released.

Police continue to investigate.

Man, 23, fatally shot after leaving Washington County bar

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:18:13 -0400

Police are investigating a deadly shooting early Thursday morning in Washington County.

Authorities said 23-year-old Rensfield Jarvis, of New York, was found shot to death on Ewing Street around 12:30 a.m.

Investigators said Jarvis suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was dead by time officials arrived at the scene.

According to police, Jarvis was at nearby Pickles Bar before the shooting and was shot after he left the bar alone.

“There was surveillance footage from inside the bar that we reviewed and there were no issues inside the bar,” Washington police Lt. Dan Stanek said.

Residents who live near the bar told Channel 11’s Dave Bondy that they were worried for their own safety.

"All of a sudden I heard bam, bam, bam and all you could see is the rain of fire shooting out of the gun. The poor boy's body was blown away. It was the sickest thing I've ever seen," witness Michelle Powell said.

Tracy Huffman said she heard three or four gunshots, but didn’t know what had happened.

“I thought it was fireworks, and then 15 minutes later my boyfriend called and said there was a dead body,” Huffman said.

Officers said Jarvis moved to the city of Washington about two months ago and was living with extended family.

“You don’t want to see anyone get shot. It’s just a shame because people don’t care about life. They took his life into their hands like it was nothing. It’s ridiculous,” neighbor Robert Fields said.

Police have not identified any suspects and said they are still interviewing witnesses. Officials said they don't believe Jarvis was involved in any problems inside the bar.

Target 11 investigates octane levels in gasoline

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:15:53 -0400

A Channel 11 viewer sent us an email saying she'd been buying gas at GetGo because of the fuel perks, but she felt as if the 93 octane was running like 87 octane. She posed the question, how do we know that the gas stations aren't putting 87 octane in every pump?

It's it good question, so we decided to put it to the test, since Pennsylvania is one of three states in the nation that doesn’t test octane levels.

I filled gas cans with regular, mid-grade and premium gasoline from three gas stations in the North Hills, a Get Go, a BP and an independent USA Gas, and then took them to the lab to be tested.

We were looking for water, sediments and octane, all things that could potentially hurt your engine.

I also talked to a mechanic who considers the wrong octane a silent menace.

“You could run a high-octane car on a low-octane fuel and the computer will compensate for it pretty good," said Damon Rauso, a mechanic at Lockhart Tire on the North Side.

He told me you might notice the engine knocking, but that doesn’t always happen, at least not right away. Over time, Rauso says an engine that requires 92 or 93 octane and is being run on less, will be damaged and will end up in the shop.

"Are you talking like hundreds of dollars worth of damage?" I asked.

"Thousands probably, if you damage the head, the pistons the valves, you're into big money," said Rauso.

That's why we were anxious to get the results.

The testing for water and sediments was done at Clark Testing in Jefferson Hills. We were looking for a line separating the water from the gasoline, but our samples looked good. The lab found no water or sediments.

"There was actually nothing in any of these. They were all clean," said Patrick Stockton, the lab supervisor.

The next test was for octane. Here are the results. The margin of error is plus or minus 0.4.

Regular 87 Octane

Get Go 87.7

BP 88.1

USA Gas 87.8

Mid-Grade 89 Octane

Get Go 89.2

BP 89.6

USA Gas 90.2

Premium 93 Octane

Get Go 92.3

BP 92.6

USA Gas 92.6

The regular 87 octane actually did slightly better than we had expected, with the octane levels closer to 88 than 87.

The mid-grade, sold as 89 octane, tested slightly higher at all three locations, with the USA Gas selling 90 octane, instead of just 89 octane.

The premium gas, listed as 93 octane, came back slightly lower at all three stations, but all within the margin of error and safe for engines that need premium gasoline.

I asked Stockton, "As a consumer, do you feel you might be getting ripped off at all?"

"No, no, not with those values,” Stockton replied. “Not at all, and with the lower octane levels, you're actually getting a little better than what you're paying for."

The lab wasn't surprised by our results because the industry has tight quality controls. In fact, the lab does independent testing for some chains in the industry, adding that a lot of stations get their gas from the same refineries.

There is a bill in Harrisburg that would require octane testing in Pennsylvania, but it's unclear how much support there is for it.

Aliquippa woman admits to stealing checks from victim at nursing home

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:06:05 -0400

According to police, an Aliquippa woman admitted to stealing from a patient at a nursing facility in the North Hills in March.

Police said Caren Anne Austin was visiting a friend at Manor Care in March when she went through the victim’s nightstand and stole three blank checks.

Officials said Austin forged and cashed two of the checks at banks in Aliquippa and Moon. One of them was for $500 and the other $1,000.

Authorities said one of the banks had surveillance footage of Austin cashing the check.

John Brickner, Austin’s neighbor, told Channel 11’s Renee Kaminski that he’s upset with Austin.

“I think it’s really disgusting that people steal from the elderly and handicapped. It’s just disgusting,” Brickner said.

Police said Austin admitted to stealing the checks and told officers she tore up the third check.

No word on what charges Austin is facing.

Girl, 4, bitten in face by dog in Homewood

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:39:03 -0400

A 4-year-old girl was hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after getting bitten by a dog in Homewood.

Officials said the girl was attacked just after 1 p.m. along Hermitage Street.

According to the victim’s grandmother, the girl was bitten on the eye, tongue and neck by the dog. The girl was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital and was released a few hours later.

“Somebody knows who that dog belongs to. I don’t even know if that dog has rabies. I want that dog put down,” the grandmother said.

A man who lives in a house by the fence where the dog was chained said a friend was visiting and tied his dog to the fence. The man said the dog bit the girl on the porch steps and then the owner took off with the dog.

“Poor baby, it could have been one of mine. It could have been anybody’s,” a witness said.

Police and animal control officials were at the scene. Authorities said they continue to look for the dog and its owner.