Rostraver police accuse Mercer County man of assaulting, restraining woman

A 34-year-old Mercer County man was arrested by Rostraver police after he was accused of assaulting a woman and holding her against her will for three days, according to court documents.

Justin C. Uber, 34, of Grove City, was apprehended after he and a woman stopped at a Sunoco gas station on Route 51. She silently mouthed “help me” to a Westmoreland County Park Police officer at the station at 5:18 p.m. Sunday. The park officer called township police.

When police arrived, the woman said Uber had held her against her will in her car for three days, threatened to harm her children and had withdrawn cash from her bank accounts to pay for drugs.

She also alleged that prior to arriving at the gas station, Uber had repeatedly assaulted and choked her during an argument. Police said Uber had taken her cell phone so she couldn’t telephone for help.

The woman told investigators had been in a relationship with Uber since May and he had moved in with her earlier this month. She said he forced her to take a job with a ride service so she could earn money.

Police said in court documents that the woman had red marks around her neck and multiple scratches.

The woman resides in Clarion County and the pair had been driving through the area when they stopped in Rostraver.

Uber was arraigned Monday on charges of terroristic threats, reckless endangering, simple assault, strangulation and unlawful restraint. He was ordered held in the county prison after failing to post $50,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing July 11.

He did not have an attorney listed in court dockets.

According to online dockets, Uber, who used to live in Wilkinsburg, pleaded guilty in 2020 to harassment in Allegheny Common Pleas Court and was sentenced to six months of probation.