Blairsville Borough Police have charged a Blairsville man with burglary and related crimes for an incident Monday morning.
Officers say they were summoned to a home along Johnson Avenue around 9:19 a.m. for a reported burglary and theft in progress after a woman, who was not identified in reports, woke up and found 32-year-old Tyler Ballengee standing over her and going through her purse. When she ordered him to leave, Ballengee said quote, “Just give me some money and I will go.” When she called 911, Ballengee allegedly grabbed her wallet and a pack of cigarettes and fled on foot.
Police saw him enter a wooded area of River Valley Park and a perimeter was set up with the assistance of Pennsylvania State Police and Homer City and Indiana Borough Police. Officers apprehended him around 10:55 after he was seen walking through the back yards of nearby homes. Indiana K9 Officer Scout traced the area and found an item belonging to the woman, along with drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Blairsville Police Chief Lou Sacco commended the assisting police departments for their help in the effort.
Sacco said officers used the RAVE notification system to alert local residents of the situation.
Ballengee was arraigned before District Judge Susanne Steffee on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in Indiana County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bond. He is also being detained on several warrants out of Judge Robert Bell Sr.’s office.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 25th at 11 a.m.
