May 1, 2015 2 min read

A Canton Township man was charged by North Strabane Township police with reckless endangerment after he allegedly used a compound bow to shoot an arrow that became lodged in a tree in a yard where a 3-year-old boy often plays.

Nicholas A. Moses, 26, of 918 Melvin Ave., was charged Tuesday by township police.

Nichole Robinson, who lives at 138 Willow St., called police April 19 to report an arrow was stuck in a pine tree in her front yard. She told police she has a 3-year-old boy who plays in the yard near where the arrow landed.

Officers Gary Scherer and Jonathan Miles canvassed streets in the area and talked with residents about the incident. A resident of Poplar Street told the officers he had an arrow stuck in his tree about a year ago and gave them the arrow.

When the officers returned to Willow, they spotted two men, one of them later identified as Moses’ brother, in front of 165 Willow. Steven Moses reportedly told police Nicholas Moses was shooting arrows from the back porch of 165 Willow a couple days earlier and one of the arrows “got away” and may have ended up in the tree.

Nicholas Moses told township police he purchased a bow about a week before the incident because he wanted to hunt with it. Police said he told officers he was unable to purchase a gun because of his criminal record, and he moved to Pennsylvania about 18 months ago after his release from a prison in Florida.

Moses said he and some friends and relatives decided to have archery practice on the back porch. Police said Moses admitted he missed the backstop and one of the arrows went in the direction of 138 Willow. He also told police he knew a child lived at that home and was happy no one was hurt.

Police determined the arrow traveled 178 feet from the deck to the tree and it appeared the arrow had been shot in the air. Police indicated if Moses missed the intended target, the arrow would have gone into a nearby hillside.

The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.