Richland man already facing gun charge arrested after cops say pistol was in car at police station

A man accused of stealing a pistol from the Dunham’s sporting good store in Richland where he worked faces a second felony charge after Northern Regional Police said he posted a photo of himself on social media posing with a rifle.

Zackary Allen Hill, 19, of the 3600 block of Crestview Drive in Richland was charged on Nov. 25 with felony counts of illegal possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property and retail theft after store surveillance video shows him “shoving what may have been a firearm into his pants” while in a storage area, according to his arrest papers.

Hill is not allowed to possess a firearm because of a felony conviction in Texas, according to authorities.

Police said Hill admitted to stealing the gun from the store, telling investigators that he gave the weapon to a marijuana dealer who threatened to shoot Hill’s girlfriend if he did not steal a gun for him, according to a criminal complaint.

He was arrested after returning the gun to the store, police said. Hill was released from custody on a nonmonetary bond and faces a preliminary on Jan. 25 before District Judge Tom Swan, court records show.

Northern Regional Chief John Sicilia said an arrest warrant was issued for Hill after they learned about his alleged post with the rifle on social media.

Hill was taken into custody on Dec. 12 in the police station parking lot after showing up in a vehicle driven by his girlfriend, according to a criminal complaint. The station is located in Pine’s municipal complex off Pearce Mill Road.

Hill’s foster brother, who was a passenger in the vehicle, also was arrested on a gun charge after a township employee accused him of having a gun in the vehicle.

Vernon Roy King, 19, became upset when Hill was taken into custody and was ordered to leave the police station property because he was causing a disturbance, according to his arrest papers.

Officers watched King drive away, but a few moments later a township employee called to report that a man and woman were arguing in the municipal building’s parking lot and that the man had what they believed was a gun, according to a criminal complaint.

Police said they knew King from previous encounters and were aware that he was only 19 years old and not eligible for a concealed carry permit, the complaint said.

Officers who responded to the incident said a loaded handgun was found on the passenger side floorboard.

King, who lives with Hill, was charged with a felony count of carrying a firearm without a license and disorderly conduct. He was released from custody on a nonmonetary bond and faces a Jan. 4 preliminary hearing before District Judge William Wagner.

Police charged Hill with a felony count of carrying a firearm without a license and illegal possession of a firearm because he was in a vehicle with a loaded firearm.

The gun was found on the floorboard in front of where he was seated when he arrived at the police station on Dec. 12, police said.

Hill was released from custody after a Pittsburgh bail agency posted a bond of 10% of $5,000 on his behalf and is scheduled to appear before Wagner for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 4, court records show.

Gun theft charges

Hill’s arrest on Nov. 25 came after police responded to the store at about 12:30 p.m. and found multiple employees holding Hill on the ground, according to a criminal complaint.

Police said Hill was handcuffed and escorted out of the store by an officer, but “expressed confusion as he thought he was going to be able to leave” instead of being taken into custody, the complaint said.

The store’s loss prevention director told police that on Nov. 21 he viewed surveillance video showing Hill inside a locked gun storage area putting one of the firearms into his pants, the complaint said.

Hill was contacted and agreed to come into the store to be interviewed, the director told police.

During the interview at the store, Hill called his girlfriend to tell her about the gun and ask her to return it to the store, which she did, the complaint said.

The woman told police that she was unaware of the gun until he called and asked her to bring it to the store.

Store employees detained Hill when he tried to flee after being told that police were on their way to the store to investigate the gun theft, the complaint said.