BOSWELL —
A Johnstown woman accused of stealing $5,180 in copper wire from Penelec and selling it for $95 was arraigned Thursday.
Police in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, alleged that Wendy Celinda Peterson, 19, and her boyfriend used bolt cutters to cut ground wires from 28 utility poles in the area of Miller Picking Road, Valley View Drive and Tire Hill Road on the morning of June 25. They then sold the copper to a scrap yard in Johnstown, police said.
Peterson, of Bucknell Avenue, was charged with theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and criminal conspiracy.
She was arraigned by District Judge Susan Mankamyer of Boswell and sent to the Somerset County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Peterson told the judge she was on probation for a driving under the influence case. Township police said she also faces drug charges in Cambria County.
Her boyfriend is expected to be charged at a later date, police said.
In other police-related news:
Fatal accident
TYRONE – A crash claimed the life of a motorist on Interstate 99 on Thursday morning, state police in Hollidaysburg said.
The driver was traveling south in a 2002 Chevy Avalanche. Troopers said the vehicle veered off the roadway and collided with a median on the left side of the highway in Snyder Township.
The car continued along the median before sliding sideways and rolling, ejecting the driver.
Police did not identify the driver.
Biker injured
STAHLSTOWN – A motorcyclist was injured in a collision with an SUV at Route 711 and Hauger Hood Road, state police said Thursday.
Police said a Nissan Rogue driven by Barbara Huff of Mount Pleasant was slowing to make left turn onto Hauger Hood Road. Adam Brinker of Latrobe didn’t notice the SUV slowing and laid the bike on its side before striking the rear of the vehicle, police said.
Brinker received moderate injuries in the accident Monday and was transported to Latrobe Regional Hospital.
Huff wasn’t injured, police said.
Troopers said Brinker is being charged with following too closely.
2 escape injury
STOYSTOWN – A man and a baby escaped injury Thursday after the SUV in which they were riding crashed on Route 30.
Bradley W. Lepley, 22, of Boswell, became distracted by the infant in the back seat and lost control of the Ford Escape just before 9 a.m., state police said. The vehicle struck a road sign and went off the highway, striking numerous trees and brush before coming to rest.
Fire ruled arson
DERRY – A June 29 mobile home fire in Derry Township has been ruled an arson, state police in Greensburg said.
The fire at Sundial Village Trailer Court caused $5,500 in damage, police said. No one was injured.
The investigation continues.
Anyone with information about the fire can contact the state police at (724) 832-3288.
Local News
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Wendy Celinda Peterson Submitted Photo
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Woman charged in copper theft
Police roundup
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