Police Pull Gun on Woman in Baldwin Twp. Road Rage Incident

Woman Arrested in Road Rage Incident on Dewalt Drive

A Baldwin Township police officer aimed his gun at a Dormont Borough woman at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday after she punched two other women in the face and ran her vehicle into a pedestrian, township police Chief Terrence P. O'Brien said.

Baldwin Township police arrived at the scene of the incident—the intersection of Dewalt and Newport drives—after the Dormont woman—Amanda Marie Petrelli, 29, of Tennessee Avenue—had already punched the other two women, O'Brien said. All three women were involved in the same traffic accident at the intersection.

According to a township resident who witnessed the accident from his porch on Newport—he is the same man who was eventually struck by Petrelli's vehicle—Petrelli punched the two other women while all three were standing outside of the two vehicles involved in the crash, O'Brien said.

The women that were punched are a mother and daughter tandem, both of whom live in the township and were riding together in the same vehicle.

When police arrived, Petrelli had gotten back into her vehicle, and they observed the witness yelling at Petrelli to stop driving. At that point, O'Brien said, Petrelli drove straight into the witness, knocking him onto her vehicle's hood.

A Baldwin police officer then commanded Petrelli to stop, but she continued driving away until the officer drew his gun and pointed it at her.

O'Brien said that, when Petrelli exited her vehicle again, the officer smelled alcohol coming from her breath and observed her as having watery and bloodshot eyes. Marijuana was found in her vehicle, as well.

Petrelli was arrested and taken to the Allegheny County Jail. She is being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

(UPDATE: All but the DUI charge was withdrawn on Dec. 18.)

Attempted Vehicle Break-in on Perri Drive

On Monday at 4:22 p.m., a resident of the 1400 block of Perri Dr. contacted Baldwin Township police to report that someone had tried to pry open the hood of her vehicle while it was parked along Perri, O'Brien said.

O'Brien said that nothing had been taken from the vehicle, but the vehicle's hood and fender is damaged.

Police are investigating the incident.

Vehicle Break-in on Jameson Drive

On Nov. 6 at 3:30 p.m., a resident of the 3000 block of Jameson Dr. contacted Baldwin Township police to report that someone had stolen an Apple iPod Touch and a Garmin GPS device from her vehicle while it was parked along Jameson, O'Brien said.

Police are investigating the incident.

Man with Six Outstanding Warrants Found on McNeilly Road

A Baldwin Township police officer stopped Stephen Sortman, 25, of Lemoyne Avenue in Mt. Lebanon, at 12:27 a.m. on Nov. 4 for speeding on McNeilly Road, O'Brien said.

The officer quickly learned that Sortman had six outstanding warrants—four from Westmoreland County and one each from York and Washington counties.

Sortman was arrested and eventually turned over to the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office.

Tires Slashed on Newport Drive

On Nov. 3 at 3:54 p.m., a resident of the 800 block of Newport contacted Baldwin Township police to report that someone had slashed the front tires of his vehicle while it was parked along Newport, O'Brien said.

Police are investigating the incident.

O'Brien said that several other municipalities in Pittsburgh's South Hills area are experiencing similar activity.

Stolen PlayStation Tracked Down in Dormont

On Oct. 30, a resident of the 400 block of Pearce Rd. contacted Baldwin Township police to report that someone had stolen his Sony PlayStation3 and $20 in cash from his home sometime on Oct. 28, O'Brien said.

Police investigated the incident and eventually found the stolen video game system at MIB Ninja Entertainment on West Liberty Avenue in Dormont.

Police believe that the woman who sold the system to MIB Entertainment for $64.99 is Angela Dixon, 26, of Portsmouth Drive in Port Vue Borough, O'Brien said, and the victim confirmed that Dixon had visited his house on Oct. 28.

Dixon is being charged with theft and receiving stolen property. (UPDATE: The charges were withdrawn on Feb. 5.)

Read through other Baldwin Township police items here.

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