Morning Roundup: Pittsburgh SWAT situation; high-speed chase; Mon Wharf reopens

Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, April 11:

Man in custody after SWAT situation in Crawford-Roberts

Police and SWAT were on scene in Pittsburgh’s Crawford-Roberts neighborhood Wednesday night for a man who barricaded himself inside a residence.

Pittsburgh Public Safety said that a SWAT team was stationed near Protector Place and Wylie Avenue at 7:45 p.m. They said they received multiple calls about a man with a gun who had fired shots. The man ran into a nearby home and barricaded himself inside.

Public Safety said that nearby residents were evacuated while police were trying to make contact with the man. The man was arrested without incident just after 8:30 p.m.

Medics on the scene evaluated a woman and two children inside the home. They were not injured, Public Safety officials said.

Sharpsburg man accused of leading state police on high-speed chase

A routine traffic stop took a turn Tuesday morning when a Sharpsburg man led state police on a high-speed chase through several towns in Allegheny County.

Police said the chase began in O’Hara Township, continued through Aspinwall, Sharpsburg and ended in Pittsburgh.

State police said Hermas Craddock, 57, was under the influence of drugs when he was driving recklessly without a valid driver’s license. According to the criminal complaint, he reached speeds of up to 80 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone, drove on curbs and disregarded multiple red lights and stop signs.

Craddock was seen in a Jeep Wagoneer with Tennessee plates swerving in and out of lanes on Route 28 in O’Hara Township just after 11 a.m., the complaint said.

He was driving toward Aspinwall when the trooper tried to pull him over in a plaza parking lot off Freeport Road. Police said Craddock hit the gas, drove up the curb on the sidewalk and turned around making his way toward Sharpsburg.

During the chase, troopers said Craddock came close to ramming his vehicle into two patrol cars and was spotted throwing a firearm out of his car window in Sharpsburg.

After reaching Pittsburgh, Craddock stopped at Harriet Tubman Terrace where his uncle lives. Police said they found him inside the apartment sitting on the couch where they arrested him. After his uncle told police that Craddock was in the bathroom and bedroom before officers arrived, they said they found a baggie of marijuana in his bag along with two firearms, rounds of ammunition and magazines in the bedroom of the apartment.

Craddock is facing multiple charges, including assault of a law enforcement officer, marijuana possession and driving without a valid driver’s license.

Police make arrest for March robbery

Pittsburgh police have made an arrest for a March 31 robbery in the downtown area of the city.

Dimareja Edelen, 24, was arrested and charged with robbery and theft by unlawful taking.

Police said that Edelen allegedly paid for an item at the Dollar General Express on Wood Street then jumped over the counter, fought with the clerk and stole cash from the open register. Police said that the clerk was not hurt in the incident.

Edelen is being held at the Allegheny County Jail.

Mon Wharf to reopen

The Mon Wharf parking lot in Downtown Pittsburgh will be reopening to the public on Thursday after experiencing heavy flooding last week.

Pittsburgh Parking Authority closed the lot early last week after record amounts of rainfall hit the city. It remained closed for a cleanup period. The Parking Authority said that both the Wood Street and Stanwix Street sides of the lot will be open.

William Penn Elementary School closed after water service disruption

Bethel Park School District superintendent James Walsh sent an email to parents Wednesday night informing them that school would be canceled at William Penn Elementary School on Thursday due to a water service disruption.

Students are not able to attend school in person or participate in remote instruction.

The school’s custodial and maintenance teams, and a plumbing contractor, are currently on-site addressing the situation, Walsh said in the email.

“We also recognize that the situation will be challenging for some families to deal with on such short notice, but the safety and well-being of our students and staff will always be our top priority,” Walsh said in the email.

The school will be reopened once water service is restored.

Washington Crown Center mall to reopen

After three days of closure, the Washington Crown Center mall announced on social media that it will be reopening at 11 a.m. Thursday.

The mall has been closed since Monday due to a water main break.