PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (EYT) — A local man was arrested for reportedly breaking the windows out of multiple Punxsutawney businesses, as well as the high school.
Court documents show the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 22-year-old Dillon Shepherd Pequeen, of Punxsutawney, in District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office.
According to a criminal complaint released on Wednesday, April 10, Punxsutawney Borough Police received a call around 12:55 a.m. on Monday, April 1, about a male throwing an object at a vehicle in the Burger King parking lot on Hampton Avenue, in Punxsutawney Borough, Jefferson County.
The suspect was reported to be wearing a red jacket, pants, and white shoes, and was last seen heading to the railroad tracks. Responding officers later located the suspect in the area of Ridge Avenue. He was identified as Dillon Pequeen, the complaint indicates.
Pequeen was observed swaying back and forth while speaking with officers. He also spoke with slurred speech and had a strong odor of an intoxicating beverage coming from him, the complaint notes.
Pequeen admitted to police that he threw rocks at a business located at 201 Hampton Avenue and broke both door windows out. He also admitted to throwing rocks at a store located at 213 Hampton Avenue and breaking the window out there, as well as throwing rocks at the Starbucks’ Drive-Thru window, according to the complaint.
Pequeen then began to cry, telling police he was praying and “God told him to do it,” the complaint continues.
He stated that he has been under a lot of stress and “can’t take it.” He kept stating that he prayed before the incident, and that’s what God told him to do, the complaint states.
Police responded to the Burger King parking lot and discovered damage to a company vehicle, with a large bag of clothing on the hood. Pequeen stated he threw the bag that he obtained from the Goodwill bin located near the store. He did not remember doing anything else to it, the complaint indicates.
Police also observed damage to the Starbucks’ Drive-Thru window with a “multitude” of rocks lying in front of the windows. The windows did not break but will have to be replaced due to several marks, chips, and other damage from the rocks striking them, the complaint notes.
Police responded to the Dollar General and found both windows broken along with Pequeen’s earbuds, the complaint states.
While leaving Dollar General, police observed two large storefront windows broken at Fox’s Pizza located at 207 Hampton Avenue. Damage was then observed at Hometown Market, including two broken windows and other damage, and discovered that Pequeen had thrown bagged firewood that was for sale on the sidewalk and into the parking lot, according to the complaint.
Pequeen then told police that he “may have” damaged property at the Punxsutawney Area High School. Officers arrived there and found damage to a door to the auditorium, and damage to an interior door and windows, the complaint indicates.
The total damage is believed to be around $7,000 to $10,000, the complaint notes.
Pequeen was arraigned on the following charges in front of Judge Mizerock at 4:00 p.m. on April 5:
– Criminal Mischief – Damage Property, Felony 3 (six counts)
– Institut’l Vand’ism Education Facility, Felony 3
– Public Drunkenness And Similar Misconduct, Summary
– Disorderly Conduct Hazardous/Physi Off, Summary (six counts)
Unable to post $20,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday, April 23, at 1:30 p.m. with Judge Mizerock presiding.