Robbery Suspect Sought by Police
Barkeyville – The Pennsylvania State Police based in Franklin are looking for a suspect in connection to the robbery of an Arby’s restaurant located in Barkeyville on Sunday. Police say the man nearly stabbed an employee with a knife after she tried to stop him from reaching into a cash register at about 8 p.m. Sunday. The suspect is described as a black male, about 6 feet tall, between 225-250 lbs. He was wearing a black hoodie, dark gray sweatpants, and black shoes; his face was obscured by a burgundy colored facemask. Anyone who may have information should contact State Police Trooper Harriger by calling (814)676-6596.
One Killed, One Injured in Crash
Erie – An Erie man is dead after a two-vehicle collision Tuesday afternoon. Crash scene investigators say that Mark McNaughton was pronounced deceased at UPMC Hamot despite the best efforts of first responders to keep him alive. Shortly before 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, McNaughton was traveling along Lake Pleasant Road in Green Township, Erie County, when his Subaru suddenly veered into oncoming traffic and crashed headlong into a Ford F-150. The pickup’s driver was hospitalized, he suffered severe but non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.
Rape Charges Dropped Against Mercer County Man
Mercer – Rape and sexual assault charges were dropped against a Mercer County man. Robert Hazen of Hadley pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the sexual assault of two minors who were 13 and 16 years old in February. He also pleaded to charges of escape for fleeing to Arizona to avoid an arrest warrant and criminal use of a communications facility; he was scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday. On Tuesday his charges were modified; Hazen still pleaded guilty to escape and criminal use of a communications facility but the charges related to the sexual assaults were dropped. The sentencing for this new plea has not been scheduled.
Judge Tosses Voter Registration Lawsuit
Harrisburg – A Federal Court dismissed a lawsuit by Pennsylvania Republicans that sought to end automatic voter registration in the Commonwealth. The January lawsuit filed by 24 PA lawmakers was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Jennifer Wilson who wrote in her decision “A vague, generalized allegation that elections, generally, will be undermined, is not the type of case or controversy that this court may rule on under the Constitution”.
The suit sought to challenge executive orders issued by Governor Josh Shapiro, Former Governor Tom Wolf, and President Joe Biden that expanded voter registration.