Man Accused of Violent Robbery, Assault in McCalmont Township Waives Hearing

MCCALMONT TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A New York man accused of a robbery and violent assault in McCalmont Township waived his hearing in court on Tuesday.

Court documents indicate the following charges against 28-year-old Blake T. Truver, of Jamestown, New York, were waived for court on February 9:

– Robbery-Inflict Serious Bodily Injury, Felony 1
– Burglary – Overnight Accommodations; Person Present, Bodily Injury Crime, Felony 1
– Aggravated Assault – Attempt to Cause Serious Bodily Injury or Cause Injury With Extreme Indifference, Felony 1
– Theft by Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Felony 2 (seven counts)
– Aggravated Assault by Vehicle, Felony 3
– Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer, Felony 3
– Recklessly Endanger Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
– Possession of Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor
– Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
– Drive While Oper Privilege Suspended Or Revoked, Summary
– Obedience to Traffic-Control Devices, Summary (two counts)
– Pass Left Unsafe, Summary (two counts)
– Limitations on Driving on Left Side of Road, Summary (two counts)
– Pass When Prohibited, Summary
– Disregard Traffic Lane (Single), Summary (13 counts)
– Signal Improper, Summary (five counts)
– Driving at Safe Speed, Summary
– Careless Driving, Summary (two counts)
– Careless Driving – Serious Bodily Injury, Summary
– Reckless Driving, Summary (three counts)
– Violate Hazard Regulation, Summary

He is currently lodged in the Jefferson County Jail on $100,000.00 monetary bail.

The charges stem from a violent incident that occurred in McCalmont Township, Jefferson County, on Monday.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, around 11:15 a.m. on January 25, Punxsutawney-based State Police were dispatched to a residence on Main Street in Anita for a report of an assault.

The complaint states it was then discovered that two individuals had fled the scene in a gray Hyundai Elantra with a New York registration plate before police arrived.

Police then spoke to the female victim and two male witnesses.

The complaint notes the victim was “covered in blood” with a laceration on her head and a black eye. Police then called for EMS, and the victim was rushed to Punxsutawney Area Hospital Emergency Room via ambulance.

When questioned at the scene, the two witnesses reported they had arrived and saw a gray Hyundai Elantra with a New York registration parked in front of the victim’s residence. They then went inside the residence and were confronted by two men brandishing knives.

The witnesses told police the men chased them out of the residence while threatening them and continuing to brandish the knives. They reported the men then got into the Hyundai and fled toward Punxsutawney.

The complaint notes one of the witnesses stated the only person he knew from New York was Blake Truver, who matched the general appearance of one of the men.

Police then observed a vehicle matching the description from the incident traveling north on State Route 36 toward Brookville and initiated a traffic stop. However, the vehicle fled north, leading troopers on a pursuit that ended with the vehicle crashing.

According to the complaint, Blake Truver was then identified as the driver of the vehicle, and Dennis Penhollow Jr. was identified as the front seat passenger.

Both men were LifeFlighted from the crash scene to a hospital in Erie.

The vehicle was towed to the Punxsutawney-based State Police barracks.

The complaint states police observed guitars, an amplifier, knives matching the description provided by the witnesses, and a cell phone matching the description provided by the victim in the vehicle in plain view.

Police then interviewed the victim.

She reported that around 10:00 a.m. a man arrived at her house and said: “Surprise, it’s Mike.” However, since she didn’t know the man, she shut the door. Then approximately 15 to 20 minutes later, the man came back and forced entry into her residence then struck her on the top of the head with a tire iron.

The victim told police the man struck her with a closed fist multiple times, then held her down while another man stole seven firearms, guitars, a cell phone, car keys, and her purse.

The victim also provided police with a description of one of the men which matched the appearance of Truver.

The complaint notes the victim was treated for a laceration to her head requiring stitches and also had a CT scan to determine the extent of her injuries.

Truver was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 2:25 p.m. on January 27.

Court documents indicate the following charges were filed against 47-year-old Dennis L. Penhollow Jr. on February 8:

– Robbery-Inflict Serious Bodily Injury, Felony 1
– Burglary – Overnight Accommodations; Person Present, Bodily Injury Crime, Felony 1
– Aggravated Assault – Attempt to Cause Serious Bodily Injury or Cause Injury With Extreme Indifference, Felony 1
– Theft by Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Felony 2

An arraignment on his case has not yet been scheduled.

RELATED:

Robbery in McCalmont Township Leads to Pursuit, Ends in Crash


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