A Mt. Pleasant motorist accused of chasing another driver and shooting at his vehicle had his day in court delayed Wednesday as state police refiled the charges against him, adding attempted homicide.
Paul A. Caletri III, 30, also is charged with aggravated and simple assault, criminal mischief, reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person in the Dec. 12 incident that began in Mt. Pleasant Township and crossed into Mt. Pleasant.
His father, Paul A. Caletri Jr., 70, also of Mt. Pleasant, is charged with similar violations in the vehicle chase — but not attempted homicide or criminal mischief. The elder Caletri on Wednesday waived a preliminary hearing before District Judge Charles Moore in East Huntingdon.
Tony Snyder, 42, the man who was chased, told state police the two Caletris approached him at about 11 a.m. on Bridgeport Street in Mt. Pleasant Township, according to a criminal complaint filed by police.
Snyder said he saw Caletri III holding what appeared to be a shotgun pointed toward the front of Caletri III’s truck and heard the younger Caletri say he was going to shoot him, according to the complaint.
According to Snyder’s account, he drove away in a truck and was followed by Caletri Jr., who was driving a Ford Explorer, and Caletri III, who was hauling a trailer behind a pickup truck.
A chase ensued along roads in the township and borough, with both of the Caletris striking Snyder’s truck with their vehicles.
Snyder told police Caletri Jr. intentionally rammed the driver’s side of his truck at Coppula Drive and Chief D.B. Pore Way in the borough. Snyder said Caletri’s vehicle was blocking the door of his truck, so Snyder climbed out his driver’s side window, went on foot to a nearby gas station and told the clerk to lock the door and call 911, according to police.
It’s unclear what triggered the chase.
Police said Caletri III admitted to firing twice at Snyder’s truck with a shotgun. No one was injured.
Caletri Jr. admitted to striking Snyder’s truck twice, according to police. Caletri Jr. said he was chasing Snyder because he was trying to get his license plate number to submit to police for an unspecified investigation.
According to police, Caletri Jr. said he obtained the plate number when the chase reached the vicinity of Main Street in the borough. But he admitted he continued the pursuit, ending with the collision at Coppula Drive, police said.
Caletri Jr., who remains free on recognizance bond, is scheduled to appear in Westmoreland County Court on Feb. 11 for formal arraignment.
Caletri III’s preliminary hearing was continued to an indefinite date before District Judge Scott Fanchalsky in Hempfield.
He remains in the Westmoreland County Jail after Fanchalsky denied a request from his attorney, David Shrager, to reduce his client’s $250,000 bail.
Shrager proposed a bail reduction to $50,000, suggesting Shrager might be confined to house arrest at his father’s home.
Assistant District Attorney Aubri Swank objected to any reduction, citing concern for the safety of the community.
“These charges are very serious,” she said, indicating the chase occurred over a broad area and put Snyder’s life at risk.
“They’re serious allegations,” Fanchalsky agreed.
Shrager said his client is looking forward to his day in court.
“He’s doing well psychologically,” Shrager said. “He has no significant criminal history. He understands the situation.”
According to online court documents, Caletri III was sentenced to three months of probation after pleading guilty in 2021 to a traffic infraction and possessing drug paraphernalia.