Construction crew helps subdue suspect

By PATRICK BUCHNOWSKI
The Tribune-Democrat

WINDBER June 03, 2009 11:44 pm

— It took seven construction workers and a Taser to help Shade Township police subdue a man accused of assaulting a restaurant employee.
An employee at Subway at Routes 30 and 160 told authorities he was assaulted by a man in a Chevrolet Silverado. The incident happened about 9 a.m. Tuesday.
When police confronted the man
– identified as Vincent Frank Stippets, 34, of Greensburg – they said he became physical.
Seven workers from a nearby construction project helped subdue Stippets.
Police Chief Tom Holland was injured during the scuffle.
Hooversville police Chief Adam Richards arrived during the confrontation and shot Stippets with a Taser.
Stippets was arraigned by District Judge Joseph Cannoni of Windber on charges of aggravated and simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
He was sent to the Somerset County Jail after failing to post $20,000 bond.
Police said Stippets indicated he was a mental-health patient because of drug or alcohol abuse.
Police said they seized “a large amount” of .357- and .40-caliber ammunition and a large knife from the truck.
They said Stippets also was carrying a knife.