Latest news with #dangerousweapon
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Dangerous tire spikes are puncturing drivers' tires in Pittsburgh area, police say
An unusual and dangerous weapon is popping up on some streets in one Allegheny County community. Police are asking for help figuring out where the caltrops, a spiked metal device designed to puncture tires and cause damage, are coming from. Several people in Brackenridge told KDKA that the objects have damaged their tires. "We came home from the park, stopped the car, opened the door, and when we opened it, we could hear a hiss," Brett Cote said. "When I got out of the car, there was a little metal piece poking out of the tire that was pretty big. ... Just watched the tire deflate over an hour until it was completely flat. I'm not sure exactly where we got it." Cote said they didn't think much of it, and it only cost them about $30 to patch it up. "We actually didn't even realize what it was until we saw the police report," he said. The Tarentum Borough Police Department alerted the public on social media Tuesday, saying it has received reports and confirmed physical evidence of the metal spikes being thrown on the streets in the area of First Avenue and Brackenridge Avenue. "Immediately, it was like an 'aha' moment. I looked at the caltrop picture that they sent in the police report, and it literally felt like I was looking back at my tire," said Cote. Police say caltrops thrown on the road are a serious risk, as they can flatten tires and cause crashes. Emily Jones told KDKA she had to get one of her tires replaced after running over a caltrop last week. Right after she did, Jones said she ran over another one and ruined her new tire. She thinks it happened on First Avenue. As for Cote, he hopes the dangerous devices weren't purposely placed on the streets. He's glad no one was hurt and the damage to his car wasn't too bad. "It's super frustrating, but could have been much worse. We're lucky we made it home, didn't get a flat tire while we were out," he said. Anyone with information about who is placing caltrops on the streets or where they're coming from is asked to call Tarentum police at 412-473-3056.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Boston man arrested after trying to put chemical-soaked handkerchief over teen's mouth, DA says
A Boston man was arrested last week after he tried to put a chemical-soaked handkerchief over the mouth of a 14-year-old boy on the street in Roxbury, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. Dorchester resident Willie Cowart, 69, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the incident during his arraignment in Roxbury District Court on July 29, according to court records. On July 28, Boston and MBTA police responded to a report of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon near Dudley and Washington Streets in Roxbury shortly after 12:20 p.m., the district attorney's office said in a press release Monday. Officers spoke to the victim, who told them he was waiting for his brother to pick him up when an older man wearing a Hawaiian shirt came over to him, poured an unknown liquid on a red handkerchief and tried to put the handkerchief over his mouth, the district attorney's office said. The victim fled to the Nubian Square bus station and contacted police. Shortly after, officers on Dudley Street saw a man — who was later identified as Cowart — wearing a Hawaiian shirt and carrying a red handkerchief, the district attorney's office said. Cowart was 'sweating profusely' and denied knowing the victim or having any interaction with him. Police brought Cowart to the victim, who positively identified him, the district attorney's office said. The victim was evaluated on scene by emergency responders. Officers searched Cowart's car and found several chemical cleaning agents inside, the district attorney's office said. Police arrested him without incident. 'This is a strange, and extremely disturbing, set of facts. It doesn't take much imagination to appreciate how frightening it was for this young man to be standing on a street corner and suddenly be accosted in such a bizarre manner. I'm grateful that he suffered no apparent injuries,' Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the release. During Cowart's arraignment, a judge released him on personal recognizance bail and ordered him to stay away from the victim and the incident location, the district attorney's office said. He is due back in court on Oct. 29 for an appointment of council hearing. More local crime stories Salem man guilty of 1971 cold case murder convicted of more charges Woman stole 8 boxes of ice cream from Boston CVS at knifepoint, police say Man shot, killed in Roxbury late Sunday night Central Mass. man indicted in connection with scheme involving more than $1M Worcester man sentenced to prison for murder of 23-year-old Read the original article on MassLive.
