Crime & Safety

Hammers and Shovels Fight on Leona Drive

And other Whitehall police notes from April 24-30.

Leona Drive Fight

police officers came to the 4800 block of Leona Drive on Saturday at around 12:11 a.m. in response to a fight between two men that involved hammers and shovels, Whitehall police Chief Donald R. Dolfi said.

Officers stopped the fight upon arrival and discovered that the two men "have a history together," Dolfi said. The men had started arguing sometime before the fight before that argument escalated into violence.

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One of the men was injured at the scene, and workers from responded to treat him. His injuries were not life-threatening, Dolfi said.

Both men are being charged with crimes—Matthew Paga, 19, of 4894 Leona, with criminal mischief and Alexander Frich, 24, of 4882 Leona, with aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and trespassing.

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Wrong Place, Wrong Time for Skyline Drive Resident

A Whitehall police officer and his K-9 partner were investigating a possible burglary in the 1700 block of Skyline Drive in the area on April 24 at around 11:14 a.m. 

They were drawn to Apt. 26 of 1745 Skyline after detecting a suspicious odor coming from there and found a small amount of marijuana in the possession of its occupants—leaseholder Antonio Gatelin, 21, and neighbor Nathan Broadus, 22, of 1600 Skyline, Apt. 10, Dolfi said.

Gatelin and Broadus are being charged with possession of a controlled substance, and Broadus, who had an outstanding warrant from Port Authority police on another marijuana charge, was arrested and taken to the before being turned over to Port Authority police.

Break-in on Stewart Avenue

A Whitehall police officer on patrol in the 2700 block of Saw Mill Run Boulevard (Route 51) on Wednesday at around 4:50 p.m. observed three males moving suspiciously near the rear of a house on the corner of Route 51 and Stewart Avenue, Dolfi said.

As the officer approached the house on the border of Whitehall and Pittsburgh's Overbrook neighborhood to investigate, the three males ran from the scene and into a wooded area, prompting a police search.

The police have not located the males but discovered that the house in question had damage to it and pieces of copper and other metals removed from it.

The incident is under investigation.

Shoplifting at Caste Village State Store

Whitehall officers responded to the in on Saturday at around 9:47 a.m. for a shoplifting report.

A 5-foot-8-inch man believed to be in his early 30s and wearing a black hat, striped shirt and shorts left the state liquor store with a bottle of alcohol without paying for it.

Officers searched the immediate area but were unable to find the man. Police are reviewing video surveillance footage and are investigating the incident.

Read through other Whitehall police items here.

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