PITTSBURGH, PA – Charges have been filed against Scott Playford of Renfrew, PA, after a firearm was found in his backpack at Pittsburgh International Airport. The incident occurred at 2:29 PM on May 21, 2024, when Transportation Security Administration officers at the airport’s main security checkpoint detected the handgun and promptly alerted Allegheny County Police.
Playford, a 45-year-old Canadian citizen residing legally in Pennsylvania, was identified as the backpack’s owner. He does not hold a concealed carry permit and now faces a misdemeanor charge for carrying a firearm without a license. Following the discovery, the firearm was seized, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified of the incident.
The Transportation Security Administration warns that passengers who bring firearms to airport security checkpoints could face federal civil fines up to $10,000, with fines for repeat offenders reaching as high as $13,910.
- Gun found in carry-on at Pittsburgh airport leads to charge
Pittsburgh, PA – A West Virginia man is facing charges after TSA officers discovered a handgun in his carry-on bag at Pittsburgh International Airport Friday morning.
Authorities say the firearm was spotted during screening at the airport’s alternate security checkpoint at about 6:50 a.m. on August 8. TSA notified Allegheny County Police, who identified the passenger as 39-year-old Wayne Parker Jr.
Investigators determined Parker did not have a valid concealed carry permit. He was charged with one misdemeanor count of carrying a firearm without a license. The FBI was also notified of the incident.
TSA officials note that bringing a firearm to a checkpoint can result in civil fines of up to $10,000, with repeat offenders facing penalties of up to $13,910.
Key Points
- TSA found handgun in carry-on at Pittsburgh International Airport
- Passenger, 39-year-old Wayne Parker Jr., lacked a concealed carry permit
- TSA warns of fines up to $10,000 for bringing guns to checkpoints
- Lancaster County shop sells $1 million Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-off winner
Middletown, PA – A Lancaster County player has won $1 million on the Pennsylvania Lottery’s 200X the Cash scratch-off game.
The winning ticket was sold at King St. Food Mart LLC, located at 502 East King Street in Lancaster. The store will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling the top-prize ticket.
200X the Cash is a $20 scratch-off game offering $1 million as its highest prize. According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, scratch-off prizes expire one year from the game’s end-sale date listed at palottery.com.
Winners are encouraged to immediately sign the back of their tickets and contact the Lottery at 1-800-692-7481 to arrange prize claims. All prizes over $5,000 are subject to applicable withholding.
The Lottery notes that winning tickets are distributed randomly, and neither the Lottery nor its retailers know where winners will be sold until prizes are claimed.
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Key Points- $1 million-winning 200X the Cash ticket sold at King St. Food Mart in Lancaster
- Store receives $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket
- Players have one year from game end-sale date to claim scratch-off prizes
- Allentown officer charged after hitting surrendering suspect with firearm during arrest
ALLENTOWN, PA — It happened on July 23 during a pursuit that ended in Whitehall Township — now an Allentown Police officer is facing criminal charges after allegedly striking a surrendering suspect in the face with the muzzle of his gun.
Officer Abviud Carvajal surrendered Thursday morning and was charged with one felony count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor count of simple assault. He was arraigned and released on $25,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 26.
According to the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, the charges stem from a use-of-force incident that occurred after officers chased 30-year-old Thomas Kravitz of Philadelphia, who was wanted for allegedly threatening his girlfriend and sending her images of a firearm.
Kravitz fled in his truck after officers tried to stop him near the 700 block of North 11th Street. The pursuit ended in a crash at 13th and Pennsylvania Streets in Whitehall Township. Police say body and dash camera footage shows Kravitz standing at the rear of his vehicle with his hands raised, surrendering, when Carvajal approached him with his firearm drawn.
The footage shows Kravitz empty-handed and clearly illuminated by police lights. As another officer held him at gunpoint, Carvajal struck Kravitz in the face with the muzzle of his weapon. Kravitz fell to the ground and was later treated at a local hospital.
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan said the video shows no evidence that Kravitz made any threatening movements or reached for a weapon prior to being struck.
A loaded .22 caliber handgun was later recovered along the pursuit route and is believed to have been discarded by Kravitz. He remains in custody at Lehigh County Jail and faces multiple charges, including illegal possession of a firearm, fleeing police, and causing an accident while unlicensed.
The investigation into the officer’s conduct was referred by Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca and conducted jointly with the DA’s Office.
Key Points
- Officer Abviud Carvajal has been charged with aggravated assault after allegedly hitting a surrendering suspect with his gun.
- Body camera footage shows the suspect with his hands up and not posing a threat.
- The incident occurred following a pursuit of a man accused of making firearm threats; that man is also in custody.
An Allentown police officer is now facing felony charges after bodycam footage revealed an unjustified use of force during an arrest.
