Police: Man fought with firefighters at blaze
BELLE VERNON – A Rostraver Township man was arrested Thursday on charges he fought with firefighters and a police officer while refusing to leave his smoke-filled house.
Township police said Donald Panepinto Jr., 47, of 694 Indian Hill Road, threw a halogen bar from a balcony at the local fire chief, Vincent Campbell, and later tried to shove a bloodied cloth into the mouth of a police officer, court records allege.
Police were summoned to the house about 6:05 p.m. and discovered the homeowner was refusing to leave the residence, which was still on fire, the affidavit in the case states.
The officer said he witnessed Panepinto throw a firefighter’s helmet from the balcony, shattering its face mask, the record alleges.
Police ordered Panepinto to stay out of his residence, yet he allegedly pushed through two other firefighters and went back in his house.
Firefighters then radioed from inside of the house that he “would not get out and was now physically fighting with firemen,” the affidavit states.
The police officer went inside and took Panepinto to the floor. At that point, Panepinto allegedly turned to the firefighters and said, “I will blow your (expletive) brains out,” the officer noted in the affidavit.
The four firefighters told police Panepinto pulled their oxygen masks off of their faces during the struggle to get him to leave, police claim.
Police said Panepinto was wrestled to the ground a second time by the officer after he pulled away and attempted to shove the cloth in the patrolman’s mouth.
Panepinto was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, obstructing emergency services, resisting arrest and criminal mischief.
District Judge Charles Christner released Panepinto on $25,000 unsecured bond.