News and Information
- On Monday October 31, 2011 (Halloween) several
residents reported that their vehicle tires were
slashed during the evening hours, possibly during
the “trick or treating” hours. In total, more than
fifteen vehicles parked along Greendale and Pennwood
Avenues, as well as Race Street, were vandalized.
There were also multiple vehicles targeted on nearby
streets in the Borough of Wilkinsburg. Anyone with
information on these crimes is encouraged to contact
the police department as soon as possible. This is
an active investigation and your tips may be
valuable to solving this case.
- On October 28, 2011 Officer Michael Crow
completed his final day as a full-time officer with
the department. Officer Crow served the borough in
that capacity for more than seven years. Officer
Crow also retired from another job in the private
sector and will continue to work here on a part-time
basis while having more time to enjoy his
retirement.
- On Saturday September 24, 2011 the Edgewood,
Swissvale and Braddock Hills Police Departments
conducted another sobriety checkpoint in the 1600
block of South Braddock Avenue. Several hundred
vehicles passed through the checkpoint in a few
hours.
The checkpoint was very successful, as
eight arrests for driving under the influence were
made. Officers also issued thirty-nine state traffic
citations for violations ranging from driving under
suspension to having an open alcoholic beverage in a
vehicle. Over thirty vehicles were towed due to
arrests or major vehicle code infractions, such as
having no insurance or not being licensed to drive.
Funding for the checkpoint was again made possible
by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.
Below are some photos taken during the checkpoint.
Click any picture to see a larger view.
Captions:
Left to Right: 1:
A final briefing takes place to go over the details. 2: Officers
question motorists passing through the checkpoint. 3:
Officers prepare to tow a vehicle that was stopped
during the checkpoint.
- On September 7, 2011 officers received a report
of an armed robbery at the GameStop store in the
Edgewood Towne Centre during the early evening
hours. Edgewood and Swissvale police officers
immediately responded to the area. Officers spotted
the suspect in the parking lot and he fled on foot
as they attempted to stop him. After a brief foot
pursuit the suspect was cornered and apprehended at
gunpoint.
During the chase the suspect
discarded a fully loaded 10mm semi-automatic pistol,
which was later found to be stolen. Money that was
stolen during the robbery was also recovered on the
suspect. The suspect was transported to the
Allegheny County Jail and was charged with multiple
felony violations. He is currently awaiting trial.
- The Borough of Edgewood held its annual
Community Day festivities on Saturday August 27,
2011. The police department had many officers
present for the events, which included a large
fireworks show in the evening. The department set up
a crime prevention booth and also raffled off prizes
to children in attendance.
Click any picture to see a larger view.
Captions:
Left to Right: 1:
Sgt. Kaskie and Ofc. Markus staffing the crime
prevention booth. 2. Chief Payne
prepares to raffle off prizes, including the bicycle.
- On June 25, 2011, during the early morning
hours, a 911 call was received for an elderly man
living on Pennwood Avenue in full cardiac arrest.
Paramedics were dispatched to that location. Officer
Brian Wyke was on duty and responded. He arrived on
scene first and learned that the man had not been
breathing for over four minutes and had no pulse.
Officer Wyke began to perform CPR on the man
while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Officer
Wyke was able re-gain a pulse from him prior to the
ambulance arriving. Due to the quick response and
actions of Officer Wyke the man survived a near
fatal heart attack. This was the fourth “save” by
Edgewood officers in recent years.
- On March 31, 2011 officers responded to an armed
robbery report that occurred near the Edgewood Primary
School. A juvenile male was robbed while walking
home from the C.C. Mellor Library. A firearm was
displayed during the robbery.
An investigation into the robbery began, which led to
the development of a suspect. The victim was able
to positively identify the suspect from a photo array.
On April 7, 2011 Edgewood police officers arrested the
suspect without incident in Wilkinsburg. The
suspect, a juvenile, was charged as an adult and taken
to the Allegheny County Jail.
- On Sunday March 20, 2011 the Edgewood and Swissvale
Police Departments jointly conducted a sobriety
checkpoint during the early morning hours. The
checkpoint was located in the 1600 block of South
Braddock Avenue near the Edgewood Towne Centre.
Approximately six hundred vehicles passed through the
checkpoint in a period of a little more than three
hours.
Edgewood and Swissvale officers combined to make
nine DUI arrests, one warrant arrest (wanted person),
three disorderly conduct arrests and one narcotics
related arrest.
In addition to the arrests, multiple traffic citations
were issued for driving under suspension and other
traffic offenses. Several vehicles were also
towed.
The police officers were also assisted by a licensed
nurse who was on scene to draw blood for chemical
analysis on suspected drunk drivers. The
Monroeville Fire Department also assisted by providing a
vehicle command center, as well as members of the
Edgewood Fire Department, who were on scene providing
additional lighting support. The checkpoint was a
team effort from all involved and proved to be very
successful. Special thanks to the Allegheny County
District Attorney's Office for providing the funding for
the checkpoint. Below are some photos taken during the
checkpoint.
Click any picture to see a larger view.
 
Captions:
Left to Right: 1: Chief
Payne briefs officers on final details prior to the
checkpoint. 2: Officers prepare
for the start of the checkpoint. 3:
Vehicles slow down and line up to enter the checkpoint.
4: Officers working in the
"processing area." Field sobriety testing and
blood draws from arrested DUI suspects were conducted
here.
- On January 24, 2011 during the evening hours officers
made a traffic stop on Edgewood Avenue which resulted in
the arrest of an adult male for drug trafficking and
firearms violations. A police canine from the
Swissvale Police Department was called in and alerted to
the likelihood of illegal narcotics in the vehicle.
A search warrant was then obtained and the vehicle was
impounded and searched. Almost five pounds of
marijuana was recovered from the vehicle, as well as a
loaded handgun, drug paraphernalia and several thousand
dollars in US currency. Below are some photos of
the seized contraband.
(Click any picture to see a
larger view)
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