Cops: Fayette County man jailed for assaulting, threatening plumber

A 58-year-old Fayette County man is in jail after barricading himself inside his Mill Run home when a dispute with a plumber turned physical, police said.

Frank H. Bowers was arraigned on charges of arson, harassment, making terroristic threats, simple assault and theft. The charges were filed by state police in connection with the incident that began about 2 p.m. Saturday and ended with Bowers being taken into custody at 8:30 p.m., troopers said.

Trooper Jessica Zangla reported that Bowers called Gillece Plumbing of Bridgeville to his home in Stewart Township because of basement flooding, but became angry and began shoving the plumber when the man attempted to return to his truck.

After the plumber was able to get into his truck, “Bowers then ran up to the truck and began yelling, threatening to kill (the plumber) while beating on the truck and windows.”

When the plumber attempted to leave, his truck became stuck in mud. The plumber told police he ran from the home “because he feared Bowers was going to harm him.”

Zangla alleges Bowers removed about $20,000 worth of tools from the truck and attempted to set it on fire before state troopers arrived.

The state police Special Emergency Response Team was called because of prior incidents at the residence, Zangla said. A section of Route 381 was closed for several hours as they attempted to persuade Bowers to surrender, Zangla said.

The standoff ended about 8:30 p.m. when Bowers was taken into custody. Brownsville District Judge Michael DeFino refused to set a bond, saying in court documents that Bowers was a “threat” to the community.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled Jan. 31 before Lemont Furnace District Judge Nathan A. Henning.