The trial of two state police troopers accused in the alleged wrongful shooting death of a 12-year-old Uniontown boy has been postponed from October until February.
U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti on Friday rescheduled the trial of troopers Samuel Nassan and Juan Curry to begin Feb. 11.
Michael Ellerbe's father, Michael Hickenbottom, sued the troopers after his son was shot on the afternoon of Christmas Eve 2002 as he ran down a city alley from a stolen Ford Bronco.
Hickenbottom's legal team asked for the delay because its lead attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, is facing federal charges for allegedly making illegal campaign contributions to the 2004 presidential campaign of former U.S. Sen. John Edwards.
Fieger's trial in Michigan might have conflicted with the Ellerbe case in Pittsburgh, according to Hickenbottom's attorneys.
Hickenbottom's lawsuit alleges the troopers violated the boy's civil rights.
At the January 2003 inquest, Curry said his gun accidentally discharged as he climbed a 4-foot fence and fell. Nassan said he heard the shot and watched Curry fall.
Nassan, thinking his partner was shot, then fired a round at Ellerbe, according to past testimony.
North Union
Charges added
to break-in case
State police filed charges against a Uniontown man accused of a December 2005 burglary in Hopwood.
Richard Dale Thomas, 22, of Race Street, Uniontown, was arraigned Thursday by District Judge Wendy Dennis in North Union on charges of burglary, theft and criminal mischief. Thomas was released on $25,000 unsecured bond.
Police allege Thomas entered Klondike Concrete Block Co. along Atlas Road by tossing a concrete block through the glass portion of the front door. He stole $2,590 worth of property, police said, including cell phones, adding machines, a truck battery and numerous tools.
Police reportedly matched a DNA sample recovered from blood found at the scene to Thomas' known profile.
Donegal
Forged $20
bill passed
State police reported the use of a counterfeit $20 bill at a Route 31 restaurant.
A customer used the phoney currency to buy food Aug. 24 at a McDonald's franchise.
Uniontown
Police seek
jewelry box thief
State police in Uniontown are seeking information on the theft of a jewelry box from the home of a Fayette County attorney that contained more than $17,700 in valuables.
Maria Balling Peck told police that someone removed the jewelry box containing a 14 karat gold diamond ring, a 14 karat gold pearl ring, an 18 karat gold bracelet, and a pair of pearl earrings from her residence on Sylvanus Avenue.
Peck told police the theft occurred sometime between July 2 and Aug. 31.
Anyone with information is asked to telephone police at 724-439-7111.
-- Staff reports
