Sep 1, 2012 3 min read

CHARTIERS Theft from vehicle: Matthew Dodson, of 222 Roth St., told Chartiers police a global positioning unit, pocket knife, cologne, prescription and laptop computer were stolen from his pickup truck Thursday. Dodson said the thief may have gained entry to the truck through a partially open cab window.

INDEPENDENCE Home burglarized: Kevin Balzer, 20 Morningside Drive, Independence, told state police Wednesday his home was burglarized. The burglar entered the home through a window and stole an iPad, iPod and Blackberry PlayBook. Anyone with information is asked to call Trooper Nathan Brown at 724-223-5200.

MONONGAHELA Arraigned in robbery: Ronald James Pietz, 19, of 125 Chess St., Monongahela, was arraigned Friday before District Judge Mark Wilson on charges of robbery, aggravated assault and terroristic threats. He is accused of robbing a teenage boy at knifepoint Aug. 22 in the 100 block of Chess. As police were talking to the victim and his friend, the boys spotted Pietz and identified him as the robber. Pietz initially was taken to the Washington County jail on the bench warrants. Wilson set a $50,000 bond on the new charges.

NORTH BETHLEHEM Burglary arrest: Jason Hillberry, 38, of 2 Pear St., Ellsworth, was arrested early Friday by state police after he allegedly burglarized a building owned by Phillip Lovejoy of Monongahela in the 2100 block of Martindale Road, North Bethlehem. As police arrived, they saw Hillberry in his pickup truck fleeing into a nearby field. Hillberry got out of the truck and was found in a cornfield, where he was taken into custody. Police found tools, metal and farm equipment valued at about $5,000 in the truck. Hillberry was arraigned before District Judge Curtis Thompson on charges of burglary, theft and criminal trespass. He was placed in the Washington County jail on $15,000 bond.

NORTH STRABANE Assault arrest: Scott Ryan Unfried, 38, of 65 Selwyn Ave., Strabane, was arrested Thursday morning by North Strabane police for allegedly grabbing his fiancee, Casey Russi, by the throat during a confrontation at their home. He was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of simple assault and harassment and released.

WASHINGTON Charged in break-in: Samuel Carpenter, 52, no known address, was arrested Thursday after he was found in an unoccupied house at 530 Jefferson Ave., police reported. Police responded to the house after a neighbor reported that someone had broken out a rear window. Police found Carpenter in a room on the upper level of the house, and said he admitted to breaking the window. Carpenter was arraigned before District Judge Larry Hopkins and placed in the Washington County jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bond. A preliminary hearing is set for 11 a.m. Sept. 6 before District Judge Robert Redlinger.

Disorderly charge: Alfred Bailey Jr., 37, of 566 Galaxy Drive, Canton Township, was charged by Washington police with disorderly conduct, accused of defecating on the front lawn of Crumrine Towers, 100 S. Frankin St., Thursday.