Pennsylvania News

Threats made by Uber passenger escalate to police involvement

Wilkes-Barre police vehicle parked outside.

Threats made by Uber passenger escalate to police involvement

Wilkes-Barre, PA A woman reported threats made against her while working as an Uber driver. The incident took place on South Main Street, where the driver had picked up a female passenger.

The driver mentioned a comment she made about the importance of inputting the correct address for pick-up. This remark led the passenger to become disorderly, prompting the driver to cancel the ride.

According to the report, the situation escalated when the passenger threatened the driver by stating she would “pull [the driver] out of the vehicle and beat [her] to death.”

As the driver dialed 911, the passenger exited the vehicle and walked away. The police department is currently investigating the matter.

Midnight gunfire in Wilkes-Barre blasts through multiple rooms

Gunfire erupts in residential area, one injured

Wilkes-Barre, PA – Officers responded to McLean Street following multiple reports of gunshots heard coming from a residence early Saturday morning. Upon arrival at 12:42 a.m., police found a large pool of blood at the front door.

Inside the apartment, investigators discovered an extensive blood trail alongside evidence of multiple gunshots. Numerous shell casings and several firearms were located on the scene as well.

The investigation revealed that an injured individual, a 20-year-old man from Newark, NJ, was transported to a local hospital by private individuals. A preliminary assessment indicated that rounds had struck walls in the living room and entered a neighboring apartment.

City Police Detectives, supported by the Pennsylvania State Police Forensic Services Unit, processed the scene. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

Man charged with homicide after friend’s death staged as suicide

Man charged with homicide after friend’s death staged as suicide

Clarion, PA A 34-year-old man faces criminal homicide charges after allegedly attempting to make the stabbing death of a 45-year-old woman appear as a suicide. Chase Steigerwald is in custody at Clarion County Jail following the death of Rachel Roman, who was discovered on the floor of his apartment on the morning of November 5.

A criminal complaint details that Steigerwald and an unnamed woman were outside his residence when police arrived. Steigerwald claimed they had gone for a walk and found Roman dead upon their return.

The unnamed woman provided police with a conflicting account. She stated that she heard choking noises from the living room and discovered Steigerwald packing a backpack as Roman lay bleeding on the floor.

Surveillance footage revealed the pair leaving the apartment at 5:05 a.m. and returning at 6:38 a.m. Steigerwald reportedly told the woman he intended to stage Roman’s death to look like a suicide.

Upon returning, the woman alleged that she witnessed Steigerwald placing a knife in Roman’s hand to obtain her fingerprints. She also observed him hide methamphetamine in a couch.

Witnesses at a party the night before Roman’s death saw her alive at around 11 p.m. Another witness on a FaceTime call with Steigerwald reported seeing him brandishing a knife and heard him arguing with Roman.

The night of the incident, Roman sent a text at 11:39 p.m., but a response from her coworker at 12:20 a.m. was not delivered, indicating her phone may have been turned off.

Neighbors reported a loud party at Steigerwald’s apartment that stopped around midnight. Steigerwald told police the knife found belonged to him and that he had smoked molly before calling 911 on the morning of November 5.

Blood was found in various locations within the apartment, including the sinks and a dishwashing soap bottle. An autopsy indicated that Roman suffered multiple stab wounds, with a fatal wound to her neck.

Steigerwald was arrested on a drug charge shortly after Roman’s body was found. His homicide charge was filed on Tuesday, resulting in the dismissal of the drug charge. He remains in jail without bond, with his next court appearance scheduled for December 2.