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City men charged for alleged road rage

2 min read

Two Washington men face charges stemming from an alleged road-rage incident that started early Saturday in North Franklin Township and continued through Washington and Chartiers Township before ending on North Main Street in South Strabane Township.

Stephen R. Whipkey, 29, of 16 Pennsylvania Ave., and Leonard J. Weiser, 23, of 810 Addison St., were taken into custody after turning onto North Main from Oak Grove Road.

City police initially received a call from a 24-year-old Washington man who said the back window of his vehicle was shot out and he was being rammed from behind on West Chestnut Street. The alleged victim told police he was trying to flee at a high speed and was attempting to get to the city police station on West Maiden.

The two vehicles continued at a high speed on Jefferson Avenue and Henderson Avenue before turning onto Oak Grove and then North Main.

North Franklin police learned from the 24-year-old the incident started on West Chestnut in front of the BP station in the township. Police said the alleged victim drove east on West Chestnut and eventually made his way to West Maiden and then Baltimore Avenue before getting back onto West Chestnut.

Police learned a bottle of vodka was tossed at the victim’s vehicle, breaking the rear window.

Whipkey told police the 24-year-old stole a half pound of marijuana and he wanted the $1,200 allegedly owed by the man. Whipkey was taken to Washington Hospital, where blood was drawn to determine his blood-alcohol content.

When Weiser was taken into custody, police said he became enraged and started ranting at police. Police said they also found him with a small amount of suspected cocaine.

Whipkey was placed in Washington County jail on a state parole violation. Weiser was placed in jail on a probation detainer.

North Franklin police will charge Whipkey with driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of an accident, propelling a missile into a moving vehicle, conspiracy, harassment, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and restrictions on alcoholic beverages. Weiser will be charged with conspiracy, possession of cocaine, propelling a missile into a moving vehicle, public drunkenness, terroristic threats and restrictions on alcoholic beverages. Police said he gave Whipkey the bottle of vodka that was thrown at the vehicle.

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