Jan 10, 2013 2 min read

One man wanted on a bench warrant was taken into custody and a second man faces weapons charges after Southwest Regional police were called to a Union Township home for a disturbance about noon Monday.

Police were called to 27 Hi-View Lane. Police reportedly found heroin-related paraphernalia as well as a 20-gauge shotgun with an obliterated serial number following a consent search of the home owned by 73-year-old Michael Muha.

When police Chief John Hartman asked Muha if he had a gun, Muha took him to a bed in the lower level of the residence and gave Hartman a shotgun that had been hidden under the bed. The serial number had been ground off.

Muha told police he had a previous conviction on a burglary charge and knew he was not supposed to have a weapon. He told police he had it for protection. Muha said he hid the gun because he knew police had been called.

Muha was charged with person not to possess a firearm, having an altered firearm and tampering with evidence. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge James Ellis.

Jeremiah Bartolozzi, 39, of 27 Hi-View, also was found in the house. He was wanted on a bench warrant issued by Judge John DiSalle for failure to appear in court on charges of possession of a prohibited offensive weapon and drug paraphernalia filed by Southwest police in June. Police reportedly found him with two knives, including one with a spring mechanism. He was placed in the Washington County jail on the bench warrant.

Police are continuing their investigation into the drug paraphernalia. Additional charges are pending.