Update on Man Who Climbed onto Roof in Whitehall After Police Chase

Jonathan Patrick Plack, 30, whom the reported as running from police in the parking lot and onto the roof of a nearby  home on Nov. 3, will face a pretrial conference at the Allegheny County Courthouse on Feb. 17. (UPDATE: Next is a July 9 plea hearing.)

Plack, of 406 Meeting House Road in South Fayette Township, had a formal arraignment at the county courthouse on Wednesday, the result of which led to the pre-trial conference. As of Jan. 7, Plack was still in custody at the Allegheny County Jail on two charges of burglary and one charge each of theft, resisting arrest and possession of an instrument of crime with intent to employ it criminally.

Whitehall police originally charged Plack with two counts each of burglary, criminal trespass and possession of an instrument of crime with intent to employ it criminally and one count each of resisting arrest, theft and receiving stolen property. However, the receiving stolen property and trespassing charges were eventually withdrawn, as was one of the instrument of crime charges.

Whitehall police Deputy Chief Richard M. Danko that police received a call from the 5000 block of Azalea Drive during the afternoon of Nov. 3 reporting that a male was sneaking through yards on Azalea and hiding behind bushes there.

Because of a previous burglary and another illegal entry in the area—both on Nov. 1—Danko said that police cars "flooded the area."

Eventually, a Whitehall police officer came upon Plack—who matched the description given by the initial caller—at Caste Village, Danko said. Danko said that, when the officer approached Plack, he began to run with police in pursuit.

Plack eventually climbed onto a roof in the 5100 block of Grove Road, Danko said, before he was apprehended.

Danko said that Plack, when searched by Whitehall police officers, was found to be in possession of gift cards reported stolen from a home in the 5000 block of Azalea on Nov. 1. He was also wearing a hooded sweatshirt that was stolen from that home, Danko said.

Plack is also believed to be the man who illegally entered a home in the 5000 block of Caste Drive on Nov. 1 before being scared away by a resident there. No items were reported stolen from that Caste home.

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