Whitaker municipal worker suspended in response to assault, other charges
A Whitaker public works employee has been charged with multiple counts of assault and other crimes for allegedly using a stun gun on two people and striking another with his car.
Council suspended Aaron Vreeland-Jensen, 22, of Whitaker from his part-time position indefinitely and without pay on Sept. 9.
It happened as police investigated a Sept. 7 incident at Lizzie's Dairy along Whitaker Street.
Police charged Vreeland-Jensen with two counts of aggravated assault, five counts of simple assault, two counts of harassment, five counts of recklessly endangering another person, three counts of retaliation against a witness or victim, two counts of possession of instruments of a crime, criminal use of incapacitation device, possession of an electronic incapacitation device, intimidation of witnesses or victims, accident involving death or personal injury, terroristic threats, careless driving, reckless driving and failure to give immediate notice of an accident to police.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 24 before West Mifflin Magisterial District Judge Richard D. Olasz Jr.
According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched Sept. 7 for a male who assaulted a store clerk and a customer with a stun gun.
Vreeland-Jensen went to the store to cash a check and tasered a clerk who refused to do so, the complaint says.
Witnesses told police Vreeland-Jensen verbally threatened clerks, including a minor, and was screaming obscenities.
A man stepped in front of him to prevent an altercation with the clerks and was hit twith a stun gun more than a dozen times, according to court documents.
The man was transported to Jefferson Hospital after speaking with police.
Another man tried to intervene and was told by the suspect to “stay back or you'll be next, old man,” the complaint says.
Police reported another witness outside the store was struck by Vreeland-Jensen's vehicle as he attempted to flee the scene.
The man struck by the car became airborne and landed on Whitaker Street.
Court documents state he declined medical attention but was instructed to seek treatment when his pain increased.
The complaint does not indicate if the victim went to a hospital.
Vreeland-Jensen was apprehended at his home along Arkansas Avenue.
Vreeland-Jensen admitted to police he stun-gunned a clerk, but denied any altercation with anyone else, according to court documents.
Vreeland-Jensen was lodged at the Allegheny County Jail until Friday, when he posted $25,000 bond.
He has worked for the borough for less than a year. His suspension leaves the public works department with five part-timers.
Michael DiVittorio is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1965, or mdivittorio@tribweb.com.
