GREENSBURG – A man shot his drinking buddy in the foot while aiming at a groundhog, then blamed the scope on his rifle for the incident, state police said.
James Sullivan, 51, of Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, was charged in the incident that occurred about 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
Troopers from the Greensburg barracks said Barry Guy, 51, of Latrobe, was visiting Sullivan and fell asleep on the lawn.
Sullivan, who was on the porch, saw a groundhog about two feet away from Guy and fired a Remington .32 caliber rifle at the animal, but hit Guy in the foot, police said.
Guy was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Troopers said Sullivan told them the scope on his rifle “must have been off.”
Trooper Steven Limani said the men had been drinking much of the day.
Sullivan was charged with aggravated and simple assault and reckless endangerment. Online court records don’t list an attorney for him.
McDonald’s icon kidnapped
Richland Township police are on the lookout for Ronald McDonald.
A life-sized statue of the McDonald’s Corp. icon was reported stolen Monday from the restaurant property at 1129 Scalp Ave.
Drug charges
BOLIVAR – A Bolivar woman was arraigned Saturday night on charges of growing marijuana.
Police said they found about 2 pounds of marijuana plants in Stefanee Wynn’s home last year.
Wynn was charged Saturday by New Florence police with possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell the drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.
She was lodged in the Westmoreland County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. Her preliminary hearing was set for Friday.
“We want the drug dealers to be aware that we are actively enforcing drug laws,” police Chief Dan Colflesh said.
Burglary
BERLIN – A Berlin man is accused of breaking into a borough home and stealing a woman’s purse.
Michael Platt, 37, was charged with burglary, harassment, stalking, criminal trespass and theft by deception.
Police said Platt had been repeatedly making harassing phone calls to the woman and her children. In one text message sent to the woman, Platt tried to scare her, claiming he had a gun, police said.
Police alleged that Platt broke into her home along Broadway Street at 4:30 a.m. Sunday and took her purse.
Witnesses report that Platt returned twice more, and at 6:30 a.m., he confronted the woman when she returned to her home and was verbally abusive.
Platt’s bail was set at $8,000.
He is scheduled for a hearing before District Judge Sandra Stevanus on Thursday.
Stolen ATV
CARROLLTOWN – Someone stole an all-terrain vehicle from a residence in the 800 block of Carroll Road in East Carroll Township on June 20.
State police said the burglar forced open the owner’s garage door and took a green Yamaha 400.
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