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Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania state trooper put on
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – As investigations continue into what happened during the arrests of two people on the side of Interstate 76 over the weekend, Chris Bartlett is speaking out.
“We’re taking a stand for them to say that what happened on Saturday was inappropriate,” Bartlett said.
Bartlett, the executive director of the William Way LGBT Community Center, is calling for accountability after seeing a video posted on social media over the weekend depicting a portion of the incident.
In the video, a person is seen on the ground getting handcuffed. That’s Bartlett’s co-worker and the center’s chief operating officer, Darius McLean, he said. Celena Morrison – McLean’s wife and the executive director of the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs – is behind the camera.
On Saturday, Pennsylvania State Police sent over a report that does not list the names of those arrested. It says a trooper pulled over an Infiniti on 76 Westbound at mile marker 344.9 for “multiple vehicle code violations.”
After the trooper pulled the Infiniti over, the report says, someone else pulled up behind the trooper, got out of their car and “became verbally combative.” As the trooper tried to arrest that driver, the report states the person from the other car interfered. Both drivers were taken into custody on multiple charges.
Both have since been released. In a statement, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office said as of Sunday morning, it has “made no charging decision pending a thorough, even-handed investigation.”
On Monday, Pennsylvania State Police declined CBS News Philadelphia’s request for an interview. In an email exchange, a spokesperson did not confirm the identity of the trooper involved but said he would be on restricted duty status while an investigation into the incident is underway.
The spokesperson added the trooper was working alone at the time and said he was not wearing a body camera.
“The body worn camera program is still being implemented by our agency. Troop K does not have BWCs yet,” state police wrote.
For Bartlett, McLean is more than just a coworker; the COO and his wife are dear friends.
“This was a tremendous trauma for both Celena and for Darius, but it’s also a trauma for our entire community,” Bartlett said.
The executive director pledges support and accountability as the investigations continue.
“They’re going through it. That’s why we’re really standing up to make sure that they have everything that they need,” Bartlett said.
Philadelphia City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier also finds the video troubling.
“We know that within our city there’s been a long history of mistrust between communities of color and police. I think this furthers that narrative, right?” Gauthier said in an interview.
Mayor Cherelle Parker’s office did not provide any additional comment on the matter outside of a statement made on X, Saturday night in which she said the video is “very concerning.”
“My hope is that we can change this dynamic. Especially at a time when we’re dealing with various public safety crises including gun violence in our city,” Gauthier said.
Mike Lee, executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, shared this statement with CBS News Philadelphia: “The incident … is just the latest example of a police interaction that escalated to a physical altercation. As study after study has shown, Black and brown people as well as trans and queer individuals are more likely to be stopped by police. The ACLU of Pennsylvania joins countless community leaders demanding the release of all body and dash cam footage for transparency and accountability. We also urge law enforcement to implement more de-escalation strategies when they encounter civilians for any reason.”
Council Member Rue Landau posted a statement on social media that said, in part, “The footage is alarming. As we wait for more information about the incident, my office and I will continue to stay in touch with the Parker administration, the state and other city officials to ensure transparency and to investigate further.”
Darrin W. Anderson, President and CEO of the Urban League of Philadelphia, shared this comment: “While we echo Mayor Parker’s sentiments that the video is very concerning, the Urban League of Philadelphia will not be issuing a statement at this time.”
A spokesperson with the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association shared this statement: “The PSTA is aware of Saturday’s incident in Philadelphia on Interstate 76. This morning, and every day, Pennsylvania state troopers go to work prepared to lay down their lives for their fellow citizens. As our Call of Honor states, these brave men and women do not swerve from the path of duty. The PSTA will not have any further comment during this investigation.”
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania man rubs raw chicken on door, dumps oil on vending machine: police
MIFFLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — A Mifflin County man was arrested Thursday after Pennsylvania State Police say he dumped oil on a vending machine and rubbed raw chicken on the door of a nearby business.
Timothy Peachey, 33, is accused of committing the acts on May 17 on East John Street in McVeytown, according to a state police release.
The oil caused an estimated $10,843 in damages to the vending machine and the items inside of it, troopers said.
Peachey allegedly rubbed raw chicken on the front glass door of McVeytown Market. The reason for these actions is unknown.
Peachey is charged with criminal mischief — a third-degree felony due to the total property damage — as well as a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct and a summary offense for scattering rubbish.
He was released on bail and is awaiting a preliminary hearing, according to his court docket.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania lawmakers introduce bills targeting data center development
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — A Luzerne County legislator introduced a bill this week intended to allow local governments to place a moratorium on data center applications.
Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne) introduced House Bill 2533 on Wednesday.
“Our municipalities, which decide local land use policies, have struggled to understand the myriad environmental and community impacts of this new industry and to review and revise their zoning ordinances to keep up with the influx of interest from data center developers,” Walsh said in a co-sponsorship memorandum. “I am therefore proposing to give municipalities the option of placing a moratorium on data center applications so that, if they choose, they can revise their ordinances and establish conditional use policies addressing issues like power supply, water consumption, noise and setbacks which they determine protect the community’s interest.”
It is a companion bill, he said, to Senator Jarrett Coleman (R-Bucks/Lehigh)’s Senate Bill 1345.
They both would allow an 18-month moratorium on both unapproved and new data center applications.
The two legislators also introduced legislation they say would repeal the state Computer Data Center Equipment Exemption program enacted in 2021, which the legislators say incentivizes data centers to locate in Pennsylvania by exempting computer data center equipment from the Sales and Use Tax when it is sold to, used or consumed in a certified data center by an owner, operator or qualified tenant. This is in the form of House Bill 2532 and Senate Bill 1344 respectively.
“While we all appreciate the technological advances that are driving the development of new data centers, I am certain most Pennsylvanians want a more thoughtful approach to where and under what requirements they can operate and don’t want to subsidize them with tax incentives,” said Coleman. “The bills Rep. Walsh and I partnered on will do just that.”
Data centers have been a hot topic issue across Pennsylvania as communities have rallied to oppose developments, including in Columbia and in the Annville area.
Pennsylvania
Man accused of using excavator to destroy home with family inside
Court records show a man is facing numerous charges after local news outlets reported he was accused of partially demolishing his Pennsylvania home with members of his family still inside.
Erik Pierwsza, 48, is charged with three counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count each of causing a catastrophe and disorderly conduct, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY.
According to local media outlet WTAE, Pierwsza allegedly destroyed a portion of his home with an excavator, while his wife and two children were inside. Pierwsza is a resident of Buffalo Township, roughly 30 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
The Buffalo Township Police Department did not immediately return USA TODAY’s request for more information. Court records did not list representation for Pierwsza and noted that he is not currently represented by a public defender.
According to a criminal complaint reported on by WTAE and WPXI, Pierswza had allegedly got into an argument, at which point Pierswza threatened to tear down the house.
He then allegedly climbed into the excavator and began demolishing the home, per the outlets.
According to WPXI, no one was injured.
Pierwsza is being held at Butler County Prison on $10,000 bond, per court documents.
Drew Pittock covers national trending news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at DPittock@usatodayco.com.
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