Arrest made in alleged carjacking
A Canton Township man was arrested by South Strabane Township police after he allegedly assaulted a Canonsburg man as he drove early Wednesday, forcing the driver from the car and then stealing the vehicle.
Ryan Douglas Penvose, 30, of 2568 Beverly Drive, was taken into custody after he crashed the sport utility vehicle in Maple Terrace in Washington.
Township police were called about 3:15 a.m. to the 50 Yard Line, Henderson Avenue, to assist police. When the officer arrived, city police told him a man reported he was assaulted and carjacked on North Main Street.
The owner of 50 Yard Line told city police Penvose left the bar with Jason John Brunet. Brunet, 40, of Canonsburg, told South Strabane police he met a man who asked him for a ride home. As Brunet drove on North Main, Penvose reportedly suggested the two stop at the Trio Lounge.
After they left that bar, he said Penvose told him to turn right. As they approached Oak Grove Road, Penvose allegedly hit Brunet on the right side of the face. Brunet said he stopped the vehicle and Penvose allegedly pushed him out and took the vehicle.
Officer Jim McKean took Brunet to his home and was trying to talk with the owner of the vehicle at that residence about 3:45 a.m. when he heard city police dispatched to a report of a dark-colored sport utility involved in a crash near Maple Terrace. The vehicle overturned, police said.
City police notified McKean it was the stolen vehicle and Penvose was at the scene after he was found about 100 feet from the crash. Penvose denied driving the vehicle. He had several lacerations on his head, brush burns on his knee and cuts on his hands. He admitted he was drinking heavily. He was taken to Washington Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Penvose was arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger on charges of robbery of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, theft, simple assault and driving under the influence of alcohol. He was placed in Washington County jail on $15,000 bond. Penvose is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 20 before District Judge Jay Weller.