Published: June 13, 2008 10:45 pm      

Man stole, crashed car, police say

MEYERSDALE — A Meyersdale man was jailed Friday after state police said he stole a vehicle and then crashed it. Police said then the man confessed to being involved in robberies in Maryland.

State police in Somerset charged Marty Lee Shroyer, 29, with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and several summary traffic violations.

Troopers said sometime between 12:30 a.m. and 5:24 a.m. Friday, Shroyer stole a vehicle belonging to his sister-in-law, also a Meyersdale resident, and then was involved in a one vehicle hit-and-run crash.

Shroyer was caught a short distance from the crash site.

While in custody, he reportedly confessed to participating in three recent armed robberies in the Grantsville, Md., area – including one earlier in the day.

He was arraigned by District Judge Arthur Cook of Somerset and sent to the Somerset County Jail on $15,000 bond.

State police in Maryland are expected to file additional charges.

In other police news:

• State police in Greensburg are joining forces with Comcast cable TV to find Westmoreland County fugitives.

The state police is the second law-enforcement agency to participate in “Fugitive Files on Demand.” The show began in March when the Allegheny County sheriff began featuring the top 10 most wanted county fugitives.

State police in Greensburg say the program will be updated as arrests are made or new fugitive warrants are obtained.

The show is available to digital cable customers with Comcast’s “On Demand” service. Viewers also see a telephone number they can call to leave anonymous tips about where to capture fugitives.

• A Fayette County woman has been sentenced to house arrest and probation for a drunken-driving crash that killed her husband.

Fifty-year-old Peggy Varto of Fairchance pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and drunken driving in the crash in June 2007.

Police say Varto’s blood-alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit when she crashed into a utility pole after a night out drinking with her husband, 53-year-old Stephen Varto. He was a passenger in the car when he was killed.

Peggy Varto will spend six months confined to her home followed by two years probation.