Morning Roundup: Pittsburgh K9 officer involved in crash near Smithfield Street Bridge

Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Sept. 30:

Pittsburgh K9 officer involved in crash near Smithfield Street Bridge

City officials said a Pittsburgh police vehicle was involved in a crash Sunday afternoon near the Smithfield Street Bridge.

The city K9 officer was responding to a call at around 4:40 p.m. when the crash occurred. Police said the officer was struck at the intersection of Smithfield Street and Fort Pitt Boulevard. The vehicle was in “emergency mode” with lights flashing and sirens on.

The other vehicle involved in the crash had four people inside of it. All of them were unharmed.

Medics evaluated the officer as a precaution but he did not suffer any injuries. The K9 was also not hurt.

The officer will undergo a mandatory drug and alcohol test, per Pittsburgh police protocol.

The police vehicle was towed from the scene. The passenger vehicle was damaged but was able to be driven from the scene.

Crash in North Fayette sends 1 person to hospital

WTAE

One person was hospitalized following a crash Monday on Noblestown Road in North Fayette Township.

A crash early Monday in North Fayette Township sent one person to the hospital.

According to Allegheny County 911, the crash happened around 2:15 a.m. Monday on Noblestown Road, closing the road between Margarette Street and Locust Lane. As of 7 a.m., North Fayette Township VFD Facebook page said the road is still closed. Motorists are advised to find an alternate route.

According to TribLive news partner WTAE, there was no initial word on the cause of the crash.

The condition of the person who was injured was not immediately available.

Dozens of shots fired near Aliquippa Police station

Aliquippa Police are investigating after multiple shots were fired Sunday near their department building.

Police said they received multiple calls about shots being fired near the department at 300 Franklin Avenue at 1:48 a.m. Officers inside the station said they heard about 20 to 30 shots fired in the area. They believed they were coming from a high-caliber rifle.

The Valley Terrace buildings and Franklin and Highland avenues were canvassed for casings.

Police believe the shots came from a moving vehicle.

No officers were hit, and no one else has been reported injured. Anyone with information is asked to call the Aliquippa Police Department at 724-775-0880.

Pittsburgh man arrested for unpaid child support

Pennsylvania State Police assisted in serving an arrest warrant Friday evening to a man in the sports book section of Rivers Casino.

Police said Michael Kent Aniszewski, 57, was on the top 10 wanted list for owing almost $38,000 in unpaid child support.

Police said there were three warrants out for Aniszewski. He was taken into custody without incident.

Police said he was transported to Allegheny County Jail.

State police cruiser hit with bullets in Indiana County

Pa. State troopers were shot at Saturday night while responding to an incident in Indiana County.

According to a release from Pennsylvania State Police, units were called to the 4800 block of Lucerne Road in White Township at 9:57 p.m. for a reported domestic dispute between a father and a son at an apartment building.

The troopers were told the son, Henry Divinskiy, 22, of New York had a semi-automatic rifle inside.

When police arrived, Divinskiy’s father was able to leave the building and meet police outside. Upon troopers’ arrival, multiple rounds were fired into the parking lot from the window of an upstairs bedroom.

A trooper who tackled the father to protect him was nearly hit but, no one was injured. The gunfire damaged a police cruiser.

Police said the father and the trooper who tried to protect him took cover on the ground next to a rear wheel of the vehicle that was damaged.

State police did not fire back.

Pennsylvania’s State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) was called to the scene for backup, along with additional troopers. SERT tried to make contact with Divinskiy several times but was unsuccessful.

A drone was used to look into the window where they saw Divinskiy on the floor inside. When teams made their way inside they found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

UPDATE - INDIANA COUNTY: Troopers Shot at After Responding to Domestic Dispute, Suspect Deceased from Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound, No Troopers Injured. pic.twitter.com/L1No3PzwZJ

— Troopers Steve Limani & Cliff Greenfield (@PSPTroopAPIO) September 30, 2024

State Police were also helped by the Indiana County Emergency Management Agency/Indiana County 911, the Indiana County Coroner’s Office, the Indiana Fire Association, and the Homer City Volunteer Fire Department.