State police have identified the Allegheny County man and woman who stole a vehicle at the White Township Walmart store late Friday afternoon and led them on a pursuit into Armstrong County, where they were finally stopped by troopers using a PIT maneuver on Route 422 in Plumcreek Township.
34-year-old Michael Antonio Pucciarelli of Pittsburgh and 30-year-old Rehny Denise Little of Homestead were arraigned yesterday by District Judge Susanne Steffee in Homer City. Pucciarelli was ordered held at the Indiana County Jail on $100,000 bond, while Little is jailed in lieu of $50,000 bond. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for September 10th.
Police were dispatched to the Walmart at 5:44 PM and a trooper soon located the stolen car, a blue 1986 Pontiac 6000, on Route 422 headed west. The chase was joined and several PIT maneuvers were employed to try to stop Pucciarelli, one of which turned him around, heading back toward Indiana. A spike strip was deployed near Margaret Road, flattening a tire, but he kept going and after he intentionally hit another pursuing cruiser, he was finally stopped by two police vehicles that pinned him against a guiderail.
Police used a Taser to subdue Pucciarelli. He’s charged with felony counts of aggravated assault, fleeing, theft, and conspiracy to theft, plus misdemeanor criminal mischief and 25 summary vehicle violations. Little is charged with felony theft and conspiracy and one Vehicle Code violation.
As to the stolen car, it had been left unattended with the ignition key on the dashboard.
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