Evicted Man Arrested After Afternoon Standoff on McLaughlin Road

Update: have charged a 28-year-old Moon man with recklessly endangering others after a two-hour standoff on McLaughlin Road. 

Police said Stephen James Mitrecic was shooting a high-powered pellet riffle outside an apartment building at 114 McLaughlin Road. Officers said he'd been evicted from that building earlier in the day during a hearing before Coraopolis Magisterial District Judge Mary Murray. 

Police took him into custody shortly after 4 p.m. after an hours-long stand off that also involved officers from the South Hills Council of Government's emergency team and Pennsylvania State Police. No one was hurt in the incident. 

Officers blocked off the road about 2:40 p.m. amid reports of gunfire on the street. Police were armed and wearing bullet-proof vests at the intersection of Moon Clinton and McLaughlin roads. Police established an outpost on nearby Stevenson Mill Road as officials readied for Mitrecic's arrest. 

The building's landlord notified police earlier in the afternoon after hearing gunshots outside. Officers initially believed Mitrecic might have been carrying a high-powered riffle with a scope at the time of the incident. 

Moon Police Chief Leo McCarthy said police spent more than two hours attempting to reach Mitrecic, who would not answer his telephone or door. 

McCarthy said the man was reeling from the apartment eviction when he decided to go outside and shoot the gun into a wooded area. 

"I actually spent about two hours just knocking on his door," McCarthy said. "Finally we were able to get hold of his father and establish contact with him." 

Capt. Greg Seamon made contact with Mitrecic via telephone prior to his arrest. No handguns were registered to Mitrecic, but police said he has a history of previous arrests. 

The road has been reopened to motorists. Mitrecic lived in the one-story stretch of gray-vinyl apartments at the end of the narrow, dead-end road. 

The Moon-based R.L. Swearer service has an office located across the street from the apartments. Police said employees were told to remain inside until the incident was resolved. 

Kevin Howe, who lives in the same building as Mitrecic, said neighbors have reported him to police before for shooting the gun near the residence. The building's landlord, whom Mitrecic's neighbor identified as Michael Kennedy, could not be reached for comment. 

McCarthy said Mitrecic might face further charges in connection to the incident. 

"This worked out," McCarthy said. "Some things don't, but this situation ended well."

Allegheny County court recordsshow Mitrecic has a prior record of minor arrest and traffic incidents.

When he was arrested Monday afternoon, Mitrecic had a private complaint involving a tax matter pending against him before District Judge William Wagner in McCandless, according to  court records.

On Feb. 28, he also was found guilty of harassment, a summary offense, after a hearing before Wagner in a case that McCandless Police filed on Christmas Day, court records show.

In 2009, Mitrecic, who then was living in Ross Township, pleaded guilty before District Judge Richard Opiela to a retail-theft charge in a case that Ross Police filed Aug. 11, 2009, according to court records. Police withdrew other counts of retail theft and providing false identification to law enforcement officers in that case, court records show.

Mitrecic pleaded guilty to driving without a valid inspection, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without insurance in 2003 after Ohio Township Policecharged him in Emsworth, according to court records.

He also was found guilty of driving while his license was suspended or revoked in that incident but appealed that conviction, court records show. His case was assigned to Common Pleas Judge Robert C. Gallo before it was withdrawn in 2009, court records show.

Update: Mitrecic has been released to his residence. Police said he will not face an arraignment on the charges. Check back with Patch for more information. 

This article has been updated since first publication at 3:43 p.m. Regional Editor Cindi Lash contributed.