Published: June 25, 2008 11:05 pm      

Police Roundup: Somerset Boro man faces felony charges

SOMERSET — A borough man faces felony charges for allegedly pointing a gun he was not licensed to carry at another man inside a restaurant and bar.

After reviewing surveillance video, borough police have charged 56-year-old Eugene Sanzi Jr. of West Fairview Street with simple assault, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and carrying a firearm without a license for an incident Saturday afternoon.

The victim, who apparently was involved in a monetary dispute with the suspect, told police he was sitting at the bar at the American Legion in Somerset when Sanzi approached him from behind. Sanzi placed a gun wrapped in a gray shirt on the victim’s back, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

The barrel of the gun was sticking out of the shirt when Sanzi said, “Do you think I won’t kill you?” the affidavit says.

The unidentified victim followed Sanzi, who then ripped the shirt away from a stainless steel semi-automatic handgun in his left hand and repeated, “I need some money,” according to court documents.

The victim said he did not have any extra cash and Sanzi left, police said.

Video showed a full view of the weapon, an investigating officer noted.

In other police-related news:

n A 5-year-old boy, who was seriously injured in a car-pedestrian accident at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 2700 block of Fairway Drive, Altoona, has died.

Altoona police said the boy – whose identity was not released – was taken initially to the Altoona Regional Trauma Center and then flown by medical helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Police said the child had gone into the street from the area of the Logan Hills apartments and was hit by a westbound vehicle. The name of the driver was not released.

The preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle’s speed was not excessive, police said. The investigation is continuing.

n A Portage man was cited by state police for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct after being found passed out about 11 p.m. Tuesday on Conemaugh Avenue near Main Street.

State police said Ernest Frank Yahnert, 26, was intoxicated. He was removed from the road by a passing motorist, police said. Charges were filed at the office of District Judge Galen Decort.

n Cambria County sheriff’s deputies, county probation officers and police from Johnstown and several other municipalities participated in a sweep of wanted persons June 19 in the Johnstown area.

It was part of Operation Falcon 2008-Western Pennsylvania led by U.S. marshals last week.

Robert Tutko, Cambria’s chief deputy, estimated that 10 people had been picked up in the Johnstown area, including two wanted on Cambria bench warrants. The others were wanted on either federal warrants or warrants from other counties, he said.

Cambria deputies also participated in a sweep June 16 in Blair County, he said.

Cambria’s warrants mostly were for persons who have had repeated probation violations or delinquencies on paying costs and fines, Tutko said.

Others are for people who failed to show up for pleas or sentencing in county court, he said.

The U.S. Marshals Service reported that – during the seven-day operation – 132 warrants were cleared with the arrest of 107 people, including a Pittsburgh man charged with a homicide there.