Morning Roundup: South Greensburg EMT facing charges of child endangerment

Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, May 31:

South Greensburg EMT facing charges of child endangerment

Police said a 22-year-old South Greensburg man used tape to secure a pacifier in his 2-month-old baby’s mouth, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI.

The station reports investigators said Jordan Hirst, 22, called friends and family in a panic around 8 p.m. April 25 saying he didn’t know where his 1-year-old son had gone.

When they arrived at Hirst’s home, they told police they found him drunk. They also told police they found his son lying on the floor next to his crib with dried blood in and around his nose and his 2-month-old baby in her crib with a pacifier taped in her mouth.

According to court documents, Hirst also told police he was drunk, claiming that he doesn’t remember anything that happened from 7 p.m. that night until 4 a.m. the next day.

Hirst is facing two counts of endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person.

Two years ago, the Irwin Council honored Hirst for his work saving a woman’s life when he was an EMT with the Irwin Volunteer Fire Department. An Irwin VFD representative told WPXI that Hirst resigned for a different position with Jeannette EMS in April 2022.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 9.

Police: Former Butler Area school board member sexually assaulted teen

A former Butler Area school board member has been charged with sexual assault in connection to a relationship he allegedly had with a teenage girl.

Tribune-Review news partner WPXI reports police have charged Bill Halle with four felonies after an investigation.

Court documents said the 17-year-old girl was an employee of Halle’s at the Net Outreach Center in downtown Butler.

On April 27, police were called to an area near the girl’s home after a resident reported Halle and the girl were being intimate on a street curb.

According to the criminal complaint, Halle sexually assaulted the teen at the center. Detectives said the girl worked at the center’s cafe.

The affidavit went on to say the girl admitted to having a sex with Halle. He resigned from the school board in early May.

The Butler County DA told WPXI that Halle plans to turn himself in sometime this week.

Police identify couple found fatally shot at Butler County park-and-ride

Pennsylvania State Police have identified a woman and man who were found shot to death Monday at a park-and-ride in Muddy Creek Township, Butler County.

Jenna Christine Smith, 28, and Jacob Christian Smith, 31, of Pulanski were found around 5:30 p.m. along Perry Highway.

According to a state police report, Jenna Smith was found beside a vehicle and Jacob Smith was found in the passenger side of the vehicle.

Investigators determined the married couple exchanged gunfire in the vehicle after an altercation, according to state police.

Route 19 was closed for the investigation for about five hours.

State police said it was an isolated incident with no public safety concern.