By Liz Zemba, Tribune-Review
Original publication date: Jan. 19

Greensburg, Pa. — A Fayette County man is in jail over police allegations he made four prank calls to a 911 call center, causing police to break down a woman’s door in one instance and to surround an unsuspecting family’s home in another.

Richard A. Crossland, 49, of Evans Street, Uniontown is charged by city police with four counts each of false alarms and false reports, two counts of reckless endangerment and one count of criminal mischief.

In addition, Crossland faces charges in Ohio because when police went to question him at a restaurant where he worked, they discovered he was driving a stolen car, said the charging officer, Capt. David Rutter.

Rutter on Tuesday said Crossland made the four calls to Fayette 911 over a three-month period beginning in November.

In the first call, Crossland allegedly told a 911 dispatcher 2:15 a.m. Nov. 4 his name was “Ronald Hopps” and that his son was threatening to shoot him at 77 Millview St. He called 911 a few minutes later to report his son had left.

Police who responded could not make contact with anyone.

On Nov. 18, Crossland called 911 at 9:53 p.m. to report a man had been shot twice at Dusty’s Bar at 237 N. Gallatin Ave. A bartender told police who responded that she had not heard any gunshots and was unaware of any problems, according to a police affidavit.

In the third call, Crossland allegedly told Fayette 911 at 12:34 a.m. Jan. 1 that a man was holding several people at gunpoint at 204 Connellsville St. Police who went to the house, blocked off the street and surrounded it.

A resident who exited the house several minutes later, Andrew Binion, was “tactically detained,” according to a police affidavit. Police quickly determined the call was a hoax and released Binion, Rutter said.

In the last call, Rutter said Crossland told a 911 dispatcher at 1:58 a.m. Saturday that he had shot his wife at 232 Evans St. Police who went to the house forced open the front door after they could not get anyone to answer.

A woman who was inside, Brenda Yauger, was “tactically encountered” by one of the officers, according to the affidavit.

Tipsters helped police identify Crossland as the possible caller, Rutter said. Crossland was taken into custody Saturday afternoon at a restaurant where he worked, at which time Rutter said police discovered he was driving a stolen car out of Ohio.

In addition, Rutter said Crossland was wanted on an arrest warrant in Ohio on a charge of receiving stolen property. Rutter said Crossland has a lengthy criminal history, including past convictions in Ohio for making false reports.

Crossland told police he was drunk when he reported the false hostage situation in Uniontown. He said he knew the residents on Connellsville Street and “that the call was a joke,” according to the police affidavit.

Crossland was angry with his neighbors on Evans Street when he reported he had shot his wife at their house, according to the affidavit.

Rutter said the phone numbers on two cell phones found in Crossland’s possession match those used to make the four prank calls to 911.

Crossland is in the Fayette County jail in lieu of $65,000 bond. He faces a preliminary hearing 11:15 a.m. Tuesday before Metros. 

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