Man Chases People with Fire Extinguisher in Whitehall

Whitehall Borough police officers had their hands full with a man who reportedly chased people around his apartments complex with a fire extinguisher on Wednesday, Whitehall police Chief Donald R. Dolfi said.

Jaga Upreti, 26, of 1620 Skyline Dr., Apt. 3, in the Whitehall Place Apartments complex of the Wallace (Prospect) Park area, has been charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, tampering with a fire apparatus, resisting arrest, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct in connection with the incident. (UPDATE: The aggravated assault and disorderly conduct charges were withdrawn on Dec. 11.)

Police responded to 1620 Skyline at around 5:10 p.m. on Wednesday and found a heavily intoxicated Upreti being held on the ground by numerous people, Dolfi said. A damaged fire extinguisher was lying on the ground next to Upreti.

Whitehall officers replaced those people and tried to hold Upreti down, but he resisted police involvement, Dolfi said, including spitting at the officers and trying to break away from them.

Additional officers arrived at the scene and were able to control Upreti, who sufferred cuts and scratches to his face, Dolfi said.

Medical workers then came to the scene and took Upreti to UPMC Mercy Hospital for treatment.

Officers interviewed witnesses from Upreti's apartments building but were "not able to come up with any conclusive reason" for his actions, Dolfi said.

Read through other Whitehall police items here.

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