Nov 9, 2015 2 min read

A Pittsburgh man wanted by state police in connection with a Cross Creek Township burglary in August was nabbed by Canonsburg police Saturday afternoon after he allegedly contacted his half brother so he could sell him a firearm that had been stolen in a burglary of that man’s Canonsburg home last week.

Zechariah Charles Lynch, 27, reportedly contacted Gavin Sanpietro, whom police identified as his half brother, and offered to sell back a gun that had been stolen Thursday when Sanpietro’s home at 107 Murdock St. was burglarized. Sanpietro contacted Canonsburg police Saturday after he was contacted by Lynch.

With the assistance of police from Chartiers and North Strabane townships, the area of Ridge Avenue and Highfield streets was being monitored when Lynch was seen running through a yard in the 400 block of Highfield. He was taken into custody. No gun was found, but police said he was in possession of a needle.

Sanpietro found a backpack that was stolen from his home hidden under a trailer about 25 feet from where Lynch was taken into custody.

Police checked the backpack and found items reported stolen from Sanpietro’s home, but not the gun.

Police learned Lynch was wanted for a state parole violation, in addition to the charges filed by state police in August with District Judge Gary Havelka.

He is accused of stealing a 2005 Yamaha Rhino utility task vehicle between Aug. 13 and 18 from a building on Cross Creek Road in Cross Creek Township. Police later found the UTV being sold on Craigslist by a Uniontown man. He told police he had purchased it from a Belle Vernon man, who in turn reportedly told police he bought it from Lynch for $2,000. According to police, the Belle Vernon man said Lynch told him he had stolen the UTV and wanted to get rid of it.

Lynch was placed in Washington County Jail on the parole violation and arraigned Sunday before District Judge Robert Redlinger on charges of burglary, theft and receiving stolen property. Redlinger set his bond on those charges at $20,000. He is scheduled for a Nov. 20 preliminary hearing.

Canonsburg police said they also plan to charge Lynch with receiving stolen property and possession of paraphernalia.