Vandergrift man accused of using gun to threaten neighbors he didn’t like

Nov 18, 2023

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Vandergrift police accused a man of threatening his neighbor with a gun after police found the man outside his home leaning against a pole with a pistol tucked into his waistband.

Jeffery M. Rutledge, 68, of the 800 block of Holland Street was charged with a felony count of aggravated assault along with counts of making terroristic threats, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Police were called to Rutledge's home shortly after 8:30 p.m. Sunday, June 4 after someone called 911 to report a man was threatening people with a gun, according to a criminal complaint.

Rutledge was charged by summons and ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing July 18 before District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec.

One of Rutledge's neighbors told police he and his girlfriend were sitting on their front porch when Rutledge walked past and said, "I don't (expletive) like your kind," and showed them the gun in his waistband, the complaint said.

According to the complaint, the neighbor told police that he responded to Rutledge's comment by saying, "What, you don't like Mexicans?"

Rutledge then threatened the man before going back to his house and returning with a different gun, police said.

The couple told police they went inside the house when Rutledge came onto their property and told them, "You will respect me; I’m a vet," the complaint said.

Police said the couple gave them a copy of the video they recorded from inside their house showing Rutledge on their property waving a pistol, saying, "You want some more?"

Police said Rutledge appeared to be intoxicated, and they warned him to stay off other people's property and not to threaten them with a gun. He was ordered not to have any contact with the neighbor he is accused of threatening, police said.

Tony LaRussa is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tony by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .

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