The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

December 30, 2009

UPDATE: Man pointed gun in hunting feud, cops say

By Matt Snyder

FINDLEY TOWNSHIP — On Tuesday a long-running family feud over 100 acres of land left Brian Finley looking down the barrel of a .38-caliber pistol, and he figured he had two options.

He could run, and maybe get shot in the back.

Or, he could rush Donald Leroy Nelson and maybe take him down.

Finley took the second option and state police say he and two other men disarmed Nelson, 56, of 1878 Mercer-Grove City Road, Findley Township, who now faces charges of aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangering, and terroristic threats.

Police say the incident began with Nelson arguing with Joseph Romanko and Shane Hines, who were hunting at about 3:30 p.m. on land off Scrubgrass Road that Finley said is owned by his grandmother and Nelson — a second cousin — but was never sub-divided.

“Nobody knows whose fifty acres is this and whose fifty acres is that,” Finley said. He said Nelson doesn’t like anyone else using the land.

Finley, who said the men had permission to hunt on the land, was called in and Nelson drew a pistol from his waistband, pointed it at the three men and told them, “you’re gonna die,” according to police.

That’s when Finley said he moved in on Nelson, who was six to 10 feet away. He said he knocked Nelson’s pistol out of the firing position. Nelson pistol-whipped him as they struggled, leaving some cuts and goose eggs on top of Finley’s head.

“I got cracked on top of the head but nothing I won’t bounce right back from; I didn’t miss any work,” Finley said.

He took Nelson to the ground and got the gun off him, Finley said. He and his buddies unloaded it until state police arrived.

“It was potentially a horrible situation, and it turned out in what I feel was the best way possible,” Finley said. “No one got paid any serious injuries.”

Nelson was arraigned on the charges before District Judge Lorinda L. Hinch, Mercer, and released on bail.

Text Only
Local News
  • Store owner busted again for fake pot sales

    The owner of a Grove City store already facing charges related to the sale of synthetic marijuana has been arrested a second time for selling the drug.

    Ala H. Nassar, 27, of 125 S. Seventh St., Sharpsville, was arrested Thursday on charges of delivery, possession and possession with intent to deliver synthetic pot, criminal use of a cellular telephone and conspiracy to commit delivery.

    Abdallah H. Matariyeh, 27, of the same address, also was arrested on charges of delivery and possession with intent to deliver.

    February 10, 2012

  • Bids opened for work to widen Rt. 760

    PennDOT officials opened bids Thursday for the first two sections of a three-section widening of Route 760 in Wheatland, Farrell and Sharon.

    February 10, 2012

  • Timeline now at center of negligence lawsuit

    A jury will decide whether the normal statute of limitations applies in a lawsuit filed by a Sharon man accusing a Sewickley agency of negligence that resulted in numerous injuries to his disabled son.

    February 10, 2012

  • Social media alert first responders

    The Mercer County Fire/EMS alerts’ Facebook page is two years strong and continues to attract followers who want the latest updates on traffic accidents, fires and other emergencies.

    February 10, 2012

  • State cuts trickle down to township

    Brookfield Township “is in a world of hurt.”

    February 9, 2012

  • Toth takes $30k to settle lawsuit

    It’s typical for lawsuit settlement agreements to include a confidentiality clause that bars the parties from discussing the terms of the settlement.

    February 9, 2012

  • Taking flight

    Some kids probably daydream about sending their homework up into the atmosphere, but that really happened this week for a few classes of Jamestown Area High School students.

    February 9, 2012

  • GC man called suspect in Jan. 27 bank robbery

    A Grove City man charged with robbing a Zelienople bank Monday is a suspect in the Jan. 27 robbery of a Sandy Lake bank.

    February 8, 2012

  • Committee to focus on finances for future

    Sharon city leaders have money on their minds as they look to the future of the once-vibrant town struggling with a limited tax base and higher costs of doing business.

    February 8, 2012

  • Summer work turns into year-round part-time job

    A Sharpsville resident asked council members this week why the man hired as summer help is still on the payroll in the middle of winter.

    February 8, 2012