In a criminal complaint filed this week in Jefferson County Court, police charged 32-year-old Michael Anthony White of Punxsutawney with resisting arrest and simple assault. White was the passenger in a car that crashed into the Pikel’s service station in Home on July 5th, triggering a fire that destroyed thus business and killed a Commodore woman who was working inside.
White fled the scene of the crash on foot, and was later located at his home on Belmont Avenue in Punxsutawney. As Officer Jeffrey Winfield talked to a man at the home, White showed up, walking in the back door, but when he saw Winfield, he tried to run. The two tussled and White reached for his front pocket and waistband area. Suspecting he was going for a weapon, Winfield Wrestled him to the ground and subdued him, then called for backup and White was taken into custody.
With the suspect claiming he’d been in an accident and had injured his back, Winfield sat him in a chair and called for medical assistance. White’s father then arrived and the two conversed, with White admitting he’d been in the accident at Pikel’s, but claiming he was the passenger and he’d been passed out when the crash occurred. He owned the car but James Brown of Rossiter was driving it.
Brown is charged with homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while DUI, and a host of other offenses. He’s scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Susanne Steffee in Homer City on August 21st. White is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Jacqueline Mizerock in Punxsutawney on Monday, but he has already waived the charges to court. He’s free on $25,000 unsecured bond.
