September 05, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
BREAKING: This is a developing story and is subject to change.
A former McKeesport police detective diverted more than $1 million in dues and other funding from his Fraternal Order of Police lodge to support his Christy Park bar and restaurant, the state attorney general alleges.
Joseph A. Osinski, 55, of Haler Heights was charged Thursday by state investigators with using money from Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 91 to pay personal expenses as well as business expenses for his Christy Park business, Puzzlers Restaurant & Lounge on Walnut Street.
Puzzlers closed abruptly in July.
Osinski was placed on leave from the police department Friday when the city learned of the allegations, McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said. He subsequently retired, Cherepko said, and is no longer employed by the police department.
McKeesport police Chief Mark Steele said there is “no concern whatsoever” about any missing funds from the police department.
Osinski is currently free on $50,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing Oct. 9 before Magisterial District Judge Patrick D. Campbell in Munhall. Court documents did not list an attorney for Osinski.
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September 03, 2024 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Two of the Callos’ family’s emus relax inside an enclosure at the family’s home. (Vickie Babyak photo)
It was a typical Saturday morning — until city residents spotted a giant Australian bird casually strolling down Soles Street.
By Saturday afternoon, videos, pictures and jokes were posted all over social media about an emu on the loose in McKeesport. Even the Pittsburgh Meme group got in on the social media action, and created humorous memes regarding the unusual event.
All joking aside, David and Carly Callos of McKeesport own the emu, and live in the city with their four children. After they realized their 6-foot-2, 120 pound bird had roamed away, they immediately jumped into action to retrieve him.
Callos was concerned that someone could accidentally harm the emu while trying to capture him. He said an emu is susceptible to neck injury if a person is not familiar with how to correctly handle them.
After Callos saved his emu from the street, the big fellow rode in the passenger’s seat of the truck until they got home safely, he said. “We love our emus,” Callos said.
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September 03, 2024 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
With the rally cry “take it to the polls,” a retired Pennsylvania state supreme court justice and her husband will help lead a voter-registration drive on Saturday in McKeesport.
“A Rally in the Valley” is a non-partisan informational event, said retired Justice Cynthia Baldwin, who is hosting the event along with her husband, Art.
The event will be held from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 7) at Noah’s Ark Community Center, 200 Sixth Ave.
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September 03, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
The teen-aged suspect charged in connection with a homicide on Monday morning was released from jail less than a month ago after charges were withdrawn in a separate attempted homicide case.
Daemond Artemus, 17, of McKeesport is charged by Allegheny County police with homicide, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a firearm by a minor in connection with the fatal shooting of Dylan C. Saula, 22, of North Versailles Twp. on a Downtown street.
He is being held without bail in the Allegheny County Jail pending a preliminary hearing Sept. 13.
County police allege that Artemus and a friend saw Saula driving through McKeesport on Monday morning and flagged him down to purchase narcotics. Once Saula stopped, police allege, Artemus and Saula got into the back seat of the car and the friend drove the two around.
That’s when police allege that Artemus produced a handgun and shot Saula once in the head. Police allege that Artemus told his friend to stop the car at the intersection of Lysle Boulevard and Sinclair Street, where Artemus is accused of shoving Saula’s body out of the car, then telling his friend “just drive.”
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September 02, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
(This is a developing story and is subject to change.)
Allegheny County police are investigating a shooting Monday morning that left a North Versailles Twp. man dead on Lysle Boulevard.
Police said first responders were called to the area near Sinclair Street just before 11 a.m. when callers reported that a man was down in the street. Police found the victim suffering from a gun shot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, detectives said.
The Allegheny County medical examiner’s office has identified the victim as 22-year-old Dylan C. Saula of North Versailles.
On Monday night, Allegheny County police charged 17-year-old Daemond Artemus of McKeesport with homicide and firearm violations. Artemus was detained by McKeesport police shortly after the incident and was being held in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting arraignment, county police said.
Crews remained in the area for more than two hours processing the crime scene. The victim’s name has not yet been released.
Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call Allegheny County police at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
August 30, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District is continuing to investigate matters pertaining to an alleged sexual relationship between a former guard and student.
The guard, Alexis Brown, worked for outside contractor Homeland Intelligence & Protective Services and now faces criminal charges in connection with incidents occurring last year.
“We are still investigating all the concerns with this issue and taking our due diligence to make sure that anyone who was involved in this, and any information that we have about this, is being investigated thoroughly,” Solicitor Gary Matta said in an interview.
Matta would not confirm the rumor that two assistant principals and a teacher have been placed on leave pending the investigation. KDKA-TV reported that a principal also has been placed on leave.
“We are taking the actions that we believe are appropriate,” he said. “The district has and will continue to take the appropriate actions as we obtain information on this issue and any other issue.”
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August 29, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for a fire that damaged four McKeesport police vehicles early Wednesday morning.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is investigating the incident, along with McKeesport police and the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office.
The ATF announced the reward. Investigators said that arson is suspected.
The fire was reported just after 3 a.m. Wednesday in the municipal parking lot at the end of the Jerome Avenue Bridge and damaged four police vehicles. The vehicles were used as backup cars and were not in active use, city officials said.
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August 29, 2024 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Photo courtesy Vitalant, via Facebook)
Local Lions and Rotary clubs will partner with Vitalant to hold a blood drive Sept. 18 at Sampson Mills Presbyterian Church in White Oak.
All participants will receive a free Halloween-themed T-shirt that says “I am a blood donor.”
The event is sponsored by the McKeesport Lions Club, Mon River Fleet Lions Club, White Oak Lions Club and White Oak Rotary and will be held from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at the church, 1665 Lincoln Way.
To schedule an appointment, call 1-877-25-VITAL or visit Vitalant.org and go to “Find Blood Drives.” The event code is UC2120033.
Founded in 1943, Vitalant is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations. It merged with Pittsburgh-based Central Blood Bank in 2018.
August 29, 2024 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
The McKeesport unit of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will hold its next monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 4 in Room 122 of the Frable Building at Penn State Greater Allegheny, a spokeswoman said.
The meeting is open to families and friends of loved ones living with mental illness.
A “Care and Share” session will be held. This opportunity offers understanding and support unique to those who are affected by mental health conditions of loved ones.
For more information about the NAMI McKeesport support group meeting call (412) 527-6600. For the NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania Helpline, call 412-366-3788 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The suicide and crisis hotline can be reached via phone or text, 24 hours per day, at 9-8-8.
August 29, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
With additional reporting from Jason Togyer
McKeesport Area School District will pay $173,250 as part of its settlement with outgoing Superintendent Tia Wanzo.
In the meantime, the Tribune-Review has reported that the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office is investigating whether school officials promptly reported a series of sexual encounters between a former security guard and a McKeesport Area School District student.
The guard, who worked for an outside contractor, faces criminal charges in connection with those incidents.
Rumors have circulated for several weeks that Wanzo’s decision to step down was somehow connected to the incident involving the former security guard. Neither Wanzo nor district officials have been willing to confirm, deny or comment on the rumors.
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