Crime & Safety

District Court: Victim Agrees to Drop Road Rage Charges

From the office of Magisterial District Judge Robert Ford.

Authorities have withdrawn charges against a motorist accused of waving a gun at a motorcyclist in a road-rage incident on Route 65.

Chief Jim Santucci said Andrew Visnansky of Pittsburgh agreed to drop charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment against Jeff Mincenberg, 49, of New Sewickley Township, Beaver County, on the condition that Mincenberg give up his license to carry a gun.

 Mincenberg appeared before District Judge Robert Ford for a preliminary hearing June 21, when the charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment another person and harassment were withdrawn.

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 According to Leetsdale Police, Visnansky and Mincenberg were northbound on Route 65 on June 14 when Mincenberg’s car began passing Visnansky’s motorcycle repeatedly on the boulevard.

Visnansky told police they arrived at a traffic signal at Route 65 and Ferry Street, and when the light turned green, Visnansky popped a wheelie to get away from Mincenberg, made a rude hand gesture to Mincenberg and sped off.

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Police said Mincenberg followed Visnansky and attempted to run him off the road by pulling his car close to the motorcycle. As they came to the intersection with Broad Street, police said Visnansky looked back and saw Mincenberg holding a silver revolver in front of his windshield, waving it around and shrugging his shoulders.

Vinansky grabbed his cell phone to call police and Mincenberg sped off, police said.

Police stopped the vehicle and found the silver revolver in Mincenberg’s glove box along with another .32-automatic in his front pocket. Mincenberg admitted to brandishing a weapon, police said.

 

 The following people were charged and scheduled for preliminary hearings June 21 at District Judge Robert Ford's office in Leetsdale. Arrests do not indicate a conviction:

Postponed

  • Eldwin Williams, 36, of Pittsburgh, charged with four counts each of reckless endangerment, and one count each of harassment, leaving the scene of an accident, and making terroristic threats. Leetsdale Police said Williams rear-ended a car carrying three children at 6:30 p.m. March 7 on Route 65 in an attempt to make the driver spin out of control. Police said Williams also threatened to kill the woman driving the car, who has a protection-from-abuse order against him.
  •  Mike Cross, 21, and Ashlynn Fischer, 19, both of McKees Rocks, charged with making terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct during a court hearing in McKees Rocks. McKees Rocks Police said Rachael Santoriella, an attorney with the Allegheny County Public Defender's office, was trying to talk to Cross, her client, on May 10 when she noticed he was highly agitated. Police said she asked if he was on medication or had any behavior problems and warned she wouldn’t be able to defend him if they were going to have communication problems. Police said Cross responded by jumping out of his chair, smacking his hands together and threatening to smack Santoriella. During a preliminary hearing, Santoriella informed Magisterial District Judge Mary Ann Cercone she wouldn’t be able to represent Cross because he threatened her. Police said Fischer became angry and began saying out loud she was going to slap Santoriella too. Fischer and Cross were taken to the holding area and processed with charges.
  • Frederick Short, 58, of Coraopolis, is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under suspension and reckless driving. Police responded to a vehicle accident May 3 on Route 65 after police said Short blacked out while driving, struck a guide rail, bounced across the lane and struck a barricade. Police said they learned that Short’s license was suspended for DUI-related reasons. Police said he failed a field-sobriety test and refused to take a blood-alcohol test.
  • David Quigley, 57, of Leetsdale, charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without inspection. Edgeworth Police said several officers watched May 14 outside of the BP station as Quigley’s car approached the parking area in front of the store, swerved and took up two parking spots. Police said Quigley then got out of his car and appeared to have difficulty walking as he moved past the officers in the store. One of the officers also noticed his inspection and emissions stickers expired in September. Police towed his vehicle and took him to Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital for a blood-alcohol test, police said. They did not report test results,
  • , 33, of Rochester, charged with four counts of corruption of minors and one count of retail theft. Leetsdale Police said Bowens stole $100 worth of fried chicken from  in Leetsdale with the help of two children. Police said Bowens walked out of Giant Eagle on April 2 with $100 worth of hot chicken and drove away in a minivan onto Route 65, police said.
  •  Sean Price, 19, of Leetsdale, charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana, criminal trespass and underage drinking. Leetsdale Police found Price climbing out of the window of a home in the 400 block of Washington Street. Police said Price was carrying several items and was not permitted in the home. During a search, police found Price with a small bag of marijuana and a bottle of rum.

Waived to court

  • Len Alford, 34, of Pittsburgh, charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, trespass by vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident to police. Leetsdale police said a witness heard a loud noise Jan. 15 in the backyard at 8 Broad St. Police said the caller went outside and saw a Ford Explorer on its front bumper leaning against a retaining wall. The caller also saw Alford get out of the vehicle and walk toward Marroni’s Bar, where police found him swaying. Police said Alford refused a blood-alcohol test.

 Held for court

  • Daniel Didion, 34, of Pittsburgh, is charged with computer theft, computer trespass, theft and unlawful duplication. His hearing was postponed Tuesday for later this month. Allegheny County Police said Didion attempted to steal client records from his former employer at EPeople Healthcare in Sewickley, when he copied data from the computer network without permission.


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