Latest news with #RickLorah
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Three teens charged with assaulting street violin player at Erie bus stop
The Erie Bureau of Police has charged three teenagers with assault for punching and kicking a 23-year-old man at a bus stop at the corner of Peach and West Ninth streets. Deputy Chief Rick Lorah said the incident, which occurred May 20 at around 3 p.m., began as an argument between the parties aboard an EMTA bus and then turned physical at the bus stop. Lorah said he couldn't confirm what triggered the argument. '(The victim) was on the ground and sustained injuries consistent with getting punched and kicked while down, consistent with being assaulted by multiple actors,' Lorah said. The victim, who Lorah said frequently played the violin in the area as a busker, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at a local hospital. Lorah said five teenagers were at the scene but two didn't participate in the assault. More: "We will openly and happily smash you": More revealed in Erie biker fight with 16 charged He said police were able to track down the teenagers after speaking to witnesses and the bus driver and looking at surveillance video from the bus and surrounding businesses. The three teenagers will appear in juvenile court at a later date. A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@ Follow him on X @ETNRao. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Street violin player assaulted at Erie bus stop; three teens charged
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Police warn of new deadly additive found in street drugs
(WHTM) — Police are warning the public about a deadly new additive being found in street drugs. The new chemical, called 'Tinuvin 7-70', is being used as a cutting agent in fentanyl. It is an industrial-grade corrosive used as a protective coating on plastic that is cheap to obtain. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now What makes Tinuvin 7-70 dangerous is its ability to weaken the effectiveness of Narcan, which reverses overdoses, police said. Erie Police Department Rick Lorah said, 'Fentanyl is an already dangerous drug. These additives, these cutting agents that they're putting into it, are making an extremely deadly drug even more deadly and come with a lot of long-term health concerns.' The chemical can also cause vision loss and infertility, among various other side effects. These tainted street drugs are reportedly coming from the southern border. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Erie law enforcement warning of new deadly chemical found in street drugs
A new industrial-grade chemical, BTMPS, also known as Tinuvin 770, has been found in street drugs in Western Pennsylvania, prompting the Erie County District Attorney's Office to raise awareness about its dangers. The chemical, typically used as a protective coating on plastics, is reportedly being used as a cutting agent in fentanyl. Erie realtor hosting remodeling sweepstakes benefitting local nonprofits 'Fentanyl is an already dangerous drug. These additives, these cutting agents that they're putting into it, are making an extremely deadly drug even more deadly,' said Rick Lorah, Deputy Chief of the Erie Police Department. Tinuvin 770 is categorized as both corrosive and a health hazard. According to the American College of Medical Toxicology, ingestion of the chemical can lead to infertility, damage to unborn children, serious skin irritation, and vision damage. Drug task forces and experts believe that Tinuvin is being used as a filler in fentanyl because it is a cheap, white powder. This has raised concerns about its impact on overdose reversal efforts, as the substance has been shown to prevent the effectiveness of Narcan. Rick Lorah noted that Erie's role in the drug chain has evolved, with drugs now coming from the southern border instead of through traditional routes like Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo. He also mentioned that much of the fentanyl has been traced back to China. Local, state, and federal agencies, including the EAGLE task force, are actively working to remove these dangerous drugs from the streets. Lorah highlighted that fentanyl was a major factor in recent drug busts and arrests, underscoring the nationwide scope of the problem. The presence of Tinuvin 770 in street drugs was first noted in August of last year and has since been found in 14 different states across the country. Erie students launch weather balloon after months of work The discovery of Tinuvin 770 in street drugs highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating the opioid crisis. Efforts to address this issue continue at multiple levels, with authorities striving to mitigate the impact of these dangerous substances on communities. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Erie police investigating Tuesday night shooting, asking for video footage
Erie police are investigating after a shooting sent one person to the hospital. Just before 9 p.m. Tuesday night, police responded to a Shotspotter call for a large amount of gunfire in the area of West 10th and Raspberry Streets. Shooting on Erie's west side sends one to the hospital Police found a large amount of shell casings around the area. A short time later, police were notified that a gunshot victim arrived at the hospital by personal vehicle. According to the deputy chief, the victim is a 19-year-old male who was shot once in the leg, and the injuries are said to be non-life-threatening. Lawsuit moves forward against Project NePTWNE lease 'At this point in time we've collected forensic evidence from the scene, our major crimes unit is currently taking a look at surveillance in the area,' said Deputy Chief of Erie Police Rick Lorah. No arrests have been made at this time. If you have a surveillance or Ring camera in that area, police ask that you give them a call. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Erie police increasing presence for St. Patrick's Day weekend
There will be an increased police presence in the City of Erie all weekend as streets will be closed down for the St. Patrick's parade on Saturday morning and celebrations to follow. According to Deputy Chief Rick Lorah, 20-30 extra bike and foot patrol officers will be working city streets over the next few days. State police conducting DUI enforcement St. Patrick's Day weekend In addition to keeping the peace and cracking down on drunk driving, Lorah said they will be enforcing the city's curfew and truancy laws to help keep young people safe. 'With the weather changing and the holiday weekend, we're gonna put out multiple patrols so Monday there's gonna be a truancy patrol obviously in the morning. We'll have a curfew control at night. During the day, our bicycle patrol officers will be out,' Deputy Chief Lorah said. How does your blood alcohol level affect you by percentage? In addition to increased DUIs, police traditionally see a higher number of fights break out downtown on St. Patrick's Day weekend. They hope their increased presence will be a deterrent this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
