West Finley man accused of holding wife hostage for almost two weeks
A West Finley man accused of holding his wife hostage for almost two weeks was arrested Friday afternoon by North Strabane Township police after she went into a Racetrack Road credit union to make a transaction but instead asked an employee for help.
Kevin Lee Ewing, 47, of 341 Gunn Ridge Road, West Finley, is accused of holding 48-year-old Tierne Ewing since June 26 after reportedly finding some text messages on her cellphone that upset him.
Police were called about 2:30 p.m. Friday to Chrome Federal Credit Union, 440 Racetrack Road, for a report of a woman being held against her will by a man armed with a gun. Police were also told the man, who was the alleged victim’s husband, was in a black pickup parked by the bank doors. Officer Gary Scherer, who was nearby, asked Chartiers Township police for assistance.
When Scherer arrived, he saw the truck with a man later identified as Ewing on the driver’s side. The officer ordered Ewing out at gunpoint. Ewing had to be told several times to get on the ground, claiming he had no idea what was going on, police said. Scherer held him at gunpoint while Chartiers Officer Harry Miller placed him in handcuffs. Ewing reportedly told police he had a rifle and handgun in the backseat of the truck and a knife in his pocket.
A bank employee had put Tierne Ewing in a secured room. Scherer found Tierne Ewing hysterical, refusing to leave the room and repeatedly telling the officer, “He’s gonna kill me. I don’t want to die.”
Tierne Ewing was assured her husband was in custody and agreed to leave the room, but wanted to go to the opposite side of the building. She told police her husband pistol-whipped her, beat her, spit on her, used wire to tie her hands behind her back and locked her in a closet. Her husband also allegedly tied a rope around her neck at night, holding the other end in his hand. She told police he also took her “camping” in the woods, where he held a gun to her head and threatened to kill her. He also allegedly used a metal hot dog stick to brand her legs. She showed police signs of recent injuries, including metal staples in her forehead, reportedly to close a wound that resulted from being hit in the head with a gun. She said her husband told her to lie to doctors at the hospital about how she suffered the injury.
Tierne Ewing was taken to Canonsburg Hospital for treatment Friday.
Township police coordinated with state police to obtain a search warrant for the couple’s home. Found inside were duct tape, masking tape, rope, zip ties and other items, police said.
Kevin Ewing was arraigned before District Judge Mark Wilson on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault, person not to possess firearms, firearms not to be carried without a license, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and reckless endangerment. He was released from Washington County jail Monday morning after posting $100,000 bond. He is scheduled for a July 21 preliminary hearing before District Judge Jay Weller.