Hearing for Accused Carjacker Again Postponed

The preliminary hearing for a man charged with two aggravated assaults and a carjacking on Brodhead Road has again been postponed. 

Joseph Manna, 27, of McKees Rocks, is now scheduled to appear in Coraopolis District Court on March 1. Manna is charged with two counts each of receiving stolen property, aggravated assault and reckless driving, three counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of robbery and criminal mischief in connection to a string of attacks along Spring Run and Brodhead roads on Jan. 15.

The hearing was postponed because a court reporter failed to appear in court for the hearing. 

District Magistrate Mary Murray offered Manna, who appeared in court shackled at the hands and ankles, the options of holding the hearing without the court reporter or rescheduling. Manna chose to reschedule the hearing. 

He will appear in McKees Rocks District Court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 22 for charges related to the Jan. 15 incident in Stowe Township. 

Manna's preliminary hearing was originally to be held in January, but he was granted a postponement. 

Moon police said Manna rear-ended two vehicles on Spring Run and Brodhead roads, causing one woman to crash her car into a utility pole. Following the crash, Manna fled and approached another woman about using her cell phone. He then pulled the woman from her car and stole her Mini Cooper, which he drove to West Viriginia. No one was injured in the  attacks.

Following the incident, police obtained a warrant for his arrest. 

Police in Morgantown, WV, arrested him Jan. 16, according to the Monongalia County Office of Emergency Management. Police in Morgantown received an anonymous call from Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown reporting that Manna had sought medical treatment there. Police located him at about 10 p.m. at the Bartlett House, a homeless shelter in Morgantown.

He will remain housed in the Allegheny County Jail.