Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Feb. 18:
Fugitive taken into custody after being on the run in Verona
Verona police announced the arrest of a fugitive who fled a traffic stop Saturday.
Police said Joseph Fisher of Pittsburgh was stopped Saturday at a GetGo and gave a false identity before fleeing. They said Fisher had been on the run since Jan. 14 from an alternative housing agency Renewal Inc., where he was sent following a robbery conviction.
Verona police said they took Fisher into custody on Monday. He now faces new charges for flight to avoid apprehension, escape and providing false ID to law enforcement.
Fisher is being held in Allegheny County Jail.
Fayette County borough council president accused of stalking police chief
A Fayette County borough council president is facing various charges after he was accused of tracking a police vehicle and later interfering with an investigation.
According to TribLive news partner WTAE, Jason Frazier, 43, allegedly placed an Apple AirTag on a police chief’s vehicle. Frazier tried to prevent Apple from giving information to detectives, who sought a search warrant on the technology company.
Frazier is the Everson Borough Council President and the community’s emergency management coordinator, according to the borough’s website.
He’s charged with stalking, obstruction and harassment.
Pittsburgh police report latest Downtown crime numbers
Over the past week, police in Downtown Pittsburgh made 24 arrests and wrote 12 nontraffic tickets, according to statistics released from the agency.
Four parking tickets were issued between Feb. 9 and 15. Police conducted five traffic stops and nine tows. No guns were confiscated.
The Downtown Public Safety Center High-Visibility Patrol started in July 2024 in response to an uptick in crime and disorderly activity in the central business district, police said. Authorities regularly release statistics about the enforcement.