Erie Police Officer Shooting
Erie – More details are available about the shooting of a police officer in Erie. The officer is Patrol Sergeant Stucke, a 14-year veteran of EPD who also served as a marine during Operation Iraqi Freedom. At press time Sgt. Stucke is listed as in stable condition and being kept in the Intensive Care Unit at UPMC Hamot.
The alleged gunman is 27-year-old Patrick Gleba; he is accused of laying a trap for police officers, luring them to his apartment with gunfire where he waited inside in the dark. Wearing body armor, he ambushed police with an AR-15 style rifle and shot Sgt. Stucke in one of his legs. Gleba quickly surrendered when police returned fire and was found to be carrying more ammunition and a knife. Patrick Gleba has been charged by the Erie District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz with 30 crimes, including 20 felony counts for crimes like Attempted Murder of a Police Officer. He remains in Erie County Prison with bail set at $300,000 and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Motorcycle Crash Kills One
Cooperstown –  Last week saw one last fatal crash when a Cooperstown man lost control of his motorcycle Friday evening. According to crash scene investigators, Rod Urey (57) of Cooperstown collided with a tree while riding his Harley Davidson Streetglide on Ridgeview Road in Plum Township, Venango County and suffered fatal injuries.

Robert Bowers Trial
Pittsburgh – Today the jury for the Tree of Life Synagogue shooter Robert Bowers begins deliberations about sentencing him to death. Federal prosecutors and the defense both made their closing arguments for the trial on Monday. The Prosecution pointed toward Bowers hatred of Jews and lack of remorse for why he deserves execution, while the Defense continued its strategy of portraying him as a mentally ill man suffering from delusions and not deserving to die. Bowers is convicted of 63 crimes including 11 counts of murder and hate crimes from the worst anti-Semitic attack in American History.