Courts: Swissvale Man Charged with Assault, Forest Hills Theft

The following cases recently were heard by in :

Kirk Rice, 52, of Chalfant waived his right to a preliminary hearing on one count of theft by unlawful taking. Rice was charged Sept. 21 by Forest Hills police after an investigation stemming from an incident in which Rice reportedly took a tool from a residence on Kenmore Avenue. The victim found the tool missing and called police. Neighbors said they had seen a green truck stop near the house. They also told police they saw a man take a tool from the property and said the truck had “Rice Hauling” written on it. The man also had passed out business cards in the area. When police called him and said the tool needed returned, Rice said, “too late, I already scrapped it.” The tool was worth $3,800 new and was bought for $1,600.

Chase James Wright, 24, of waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of aggravated assault and criminal mischief. Wright was arrested Dec. 29 after Swissvale police responded to an assault call on Canon Street. The victim told police that he has walking his dog when a man came up to him and became enraged for no reason. The police report states that Wright yelled, “What are you doing here you long haired wussy?” and also complained about an unknown parking incident with the victim. Police then said Wright pushed the victim and punched him in the face. A few minutes later after police arrived, they heard a man screaming in a nearby home and found Wright, reportedly intoxicated, yelling alone. The victim identified him as the man who attacked him in the street.