Crime & Safety

District Court: Brothers Waive Robbery, Assault Charges to Court

From the office of Magisterial District Judge Robert Ford.

Two brothers waived their right to a preliminary hearing on charges of robbery and criminal conspiracy after investigators said they threatened and robbed a childhood friend at gunpoint.

Detectives with the Allegheny County Police also charged Chris Popowich, 23, of Ambridge, and John Gebhardt, 19, of Township, with simple assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, theft and receiving stolen property.

Detectives reported that Popowich and Gebhardt, who are brothers, went to a childhood friend's home at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 7 in Leet. The three were having a conversation when Gebhardt and Popowich asked the friend about the contents of a box, detectives said. The friend told them it contained his “valuables.” Detectives said the box contained $800 cash, a U.S. Passport, silver cufflinks and nine rare coins worth $100 to $150.

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Detectives said the resident took the box upstairs and put it on a table in another room.

When the resident he came back downstairs, police said Popowich pulled a small revolver from his sock and pointed it at the resident’s head. Detectives said Popowich and Gebhardt demanded money and wanted to know where the resident had taken the box.

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Popowich pointed the gun at the resident's neck and he told them where the box was, detectives said. Popowich continued pointing the gun at the resident while Gebhardt checked the house, detectives said. Gebhardt returned empty-handed, accused the resident of lying and grabbed his face with a sock on his hand, detectives said. Popowich then threatened to pistolwhip and shoot the resident, who told them where to find the box, detectives said.

Gebhardt returned with the box, and Popowich threatened to kill the friend if he told anyone what had happened, detectives said. He also took the resident's wallet before leaving, detectives said.

A short time later, found the brothers and interviewed them before turning the matter over to county detectives.

 

The following people were charged and scheduled for preliminary hearings Sept. 13  at office in Leetsdale:

Withdrawn

  • Shawn Redmond, 25, of Pittsburgh, charged with two counts of trespass and one count of loitering and prowling at night. said Redmond on Feb. 28 took 30 marine deep cycle batteries and scrap from a Dumpster from Dawson Avenue in Glenfield. The scrap was worth $700 to $1,000, police said. Police said a surveillance camera captured Redmond’s pickup truck, and witnesses said the truck was on the property. Redmond paid restitution.

Postponed

  • Jordan Brown, 21, of , charged with receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia. responded at 10:42 p.m. July 17 to Heritage Valley Sewickley for a report of shots fired. Police found five spent .38-caliber shell casings behind the hospital. Using surveillance video and witness accounts, police identified Brown as a suspect. Through investigations, police also learned Brown had a box of .38-caliber ammunition, police said. Police went to the home and received permission to search. A fully loaded revolver and marijuana pipe was recovered from the back porch. Police said the gun was reported stolen last year from the South Heights area. Brown told police he tried to legally purchase a gun, but left the gun shop without completing the required instant-check questions.  He said he and friends instead went to a bar in Aliquippa and paid a man $200 for the stolen gun.

Waived

  • Daniel Codita, 31, of Ambridge, charged with driving under the influence. Leetsdale Police said Codita was seen swerving on Route 65 at 1:31 a.m. July 2. He was taken to Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital for a blood-alcohol test. Police did not report the test results.

Warrant issued

  • Andrew Scott, 28, of Leetsdale, charged with causing or risking a catastrophe. Leetsdale Police reported officers were called to the 300 block of Beaver Street for a report of smoke in the area, which seemed to be coming from behind the building. Police and checked the back of the apartment building, which has several units and occupants. Oficials learned there was a fire on the back porch of a first-floor apartment because Scott set up a fire pit on his porch. Police said Scott put the fire out, but the floor beneath was smoldering and charred so firefighters had to soak the floor. Scott admitted he left the fire unattended, police said. Scott did not appear for court.


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