Police searching for man accused of breaking into Springdale house, threatening to kill occupants

A Harrison man is accused of breaking into a Springdale Township home and threatening to kill two women and a child with a knife.

Kenneth Mendenhall Jr., 30, faces charges of aggravated assault, burglary, trespassing, terroristic threats and simple assault, according to online court records.

Police issued a warrant for his arrest on Tuesday and he was still being sought Thursday.

Officer Chris Fabec of the Allegheny Valley Regional Police said he was called to the 1400 block of Pillow Avenue for a possible burglary shortly before 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.

County dispatch told Fabec someone called to report that Mendenhall was trying to break into the home, and they were afraid of him, according the suspect’s arrest papers.

When Fabec arrived, he saw a man and a woman outside. The man, Mendenhall, was irate and yelling. The woman said Mendenhall was not welcome at the home and had to leave. Fabec said Mendenhall left when Fabec directed him to, according to the complaint.

The woman told Fabec that she and Mendenhall got into an argument, and Mendenhall said he was going to run her over with his car. She told Fabec that Mendenhall drove the car toward her, but stopped it just short of hitting her. He then grabbed a handful of rocks and threw them at her and her daughter’s vehicle, according to the complaint.

The woman said Mendenhall ripped open the door to the house and went inside. Fabec said the woman had told Mendenhall in August that he wasn’t allowed at the residence, according to the complaint.

The woman said Mendenhall came back outside with a knife and threatened to kill them.

Another woman who had been at the house told Fabec she saw Mendenhall come through the door, yelling and screaming. The woman said her 6-year-old son had been in the house at the time, and came running for her.

The woman also told Fabec she saw Mendenhall threatening the other woman outside.

Both women told Fabec they wanted to pursue criminal charges against Menden­hall.

Editor’s note:Online court records show that felony charges of aggravated assault, burglary and trespassing brought against Kenneth Mendenhall were dismissed Monday, Nov. 2, 2020 during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David J. Sosovicka in Harmar. Misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats and simple assault were held for court. A formal arraignment was set for Dec. 22, 2020.