ifredregill@altoonamirror.com
Taking a break from the festivities Thursday, Jaycub Willey holds his 11-month-old son, Oliver, while Willeyâs fiancee, Blake Yohn, cradles the familyâs newest addition, Baylie. Photo by Ike Fredregill
In the wee hours of Dec. 17, about a foot of still-falling snow coated the ground outside Katrina Townsend’s Fourth Avenue home.
Despite the snowstorm and travel warnings from authorities across the state, Townsend’s husband, Luke, diligently cleared a path to the family’s car knowing at any moment they might need to leave post-haste.
Inside, Townsend counted the minutes between Blake Yohn’s contractions, noting the hour was now well past midnight and the contractions were becoming more frequent.
ifredregill@altoonamirror.com
An Altoona man allegedly knocked a man unconscious, punched him while he was down and fled the scene Dec. 19 at the Comfort Inn in Duncansville, Blair Township police reported.
William J. Hollen, 26, was arraigned Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge Daniel DeAntonio on charges including aggravated assault, simple assault and disorderly conduct, according to Blair County documents.
Blair Township Police Department responded to a physical altercation call at the Comfort Inn about
11:30 p.m., Dec. 19, but the suspect fled the scene before they arrived, court documents stated.
Emergency medical services transported the victim to UPMC Altoona as police interviewed a witness, who identified Hollen as a possible actor in the assault, police reported.
ifredregill@altoonamirror.com
Following multiple traffic stops and information from a confidential source, police arrested a Tyrone man on drug and firearm charges, court documents stated.
Richard A. Ewing, 42, was arraigned Thursday by Magisterial District Judge Matthew Dunio after Logan Township police discovered suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, methylâenedioxyâmethamphetamine (also known as ecstasy), drug paraphernalia, cash and a firearm in a motel room Ewing was occupying, according to Blair County court documents.
On Wednesday, police were observing the Econo Lodge, 2906 Pleasant Valley Blvd., because of information they received about potential drug activity in the area, Logan Township Police Department reported.
Merlini
An Altoona man was allegedly assaulted on Christmas in his residence by an unwelcome homeless man, Blair County court documents stated.
Robert P. Merlini, 74, was arraigned Saturday by Magisterial District Judge Daniel DeAntonio on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, simple assault, retaliation against a witness or victim and harassment.
The victim told police he entered the basement portion of the residence, which can only be accessed from the outside, on Christmas night and found Merlini in the victim’s room, police reported.
According to the victim and the homeowner, Merlini has been told he is not welcome at the residence multiple times, court documents stated.
ifredregill@altoonamirror.com
Focusing on communication technology could help the Altoona Police Department bridge the gap between today’s youth and understanding the role of law enforcement in the community, a police spokesman said.
On Dec. 15, Altoona police Sgt. Matt Plummer replaced Sgt. Tom Venios as the department’s lead on public relations and special events, and Plummer said he would like to use the position to explore social media options for future APD communications.
“We’re public servants, and the public has a right to know how we conduct our business,” Plummer said. “We’ve used Facebook for a while now, but I would like to explore other platforms as a way to reach kids and show them we are more than what they see on TV.”