County official charged
Editor’s note: Charges against Gary Bertosh were withdrawn Feb. 16 (see related story).
A Washington County department chief accused of threatening to “shoot anybody that crosses my path” turned himself in to city police Monday and was charged with two counts of making terroristic threats against employees of the building and grounds department.
Gary Bertosh, who has worked for the county since 2005, has been suspended from his job as building and grounds director, which pays about $64,200 yearly, Scott Fergus, Washington County director of administration, said.
District Judge Robert Redlinger arraigned Bertosh, released him on his own recognizance and scheduled a preliminary hearing for later this month.
According to an affidavit filed at Redlinger’s office, City police Lt. Daniel Stanek was asked to go to the county commissioners’ office in Courthouse Square on Friday in connection with an incident that reportedly had occurred the day before.
Adam Betzler, an electrician, and Janet Osiecki, maintenance coordinator, who are members of Bertosh’s department, told police Bertosh was upset about county health insurance not covering a prescription medication and that he threatened to “shoot anybody that crosses my path,” among other statements.
Bertosh’s attorney, Joseph M. Yablonski, was attending a hearing Monday afternoon in Pittsburgh and could not immediately be reached for comment.