Mt. Pleasant Township woman jailed after New Year's Day standoff with troopers

A Mt. Pleasant Township woman faces multiple charges stemming from a domestic altercation early New Year’s Day that resulted in a short standoff with state troopers.

Kelly J. Wigginton, 35, was arraigned Thursday on charges of resisting arrest, simple assault, theft and illegal possession of a firearm as a result of “domestic incidents,” according to state police in Greensburg.

Trooper Kalin Gerhard reported in court documents that troopers were dispatched three times early Jan. 1 to a residence in the 200 block of Bobtail Street. During the third incident around 6 a.m., Gerhard reported that troopers received complaints from neighbors of a female screaming and a physical altercation going on inside the home.

Once troopers arrived at the scene, Gerhard said officers learned that Wigginton had gone to an acquaintance’s home and stolen a loaded .45 caliber handgun and a cellphone. Because of prior incidents, police surrounded the home and used a loud speaker asking the occupants to surrender.

After 20 minutes, Wigginton and a man exited the home and were taken into custody. The man, who is not charged, was released.

Police said they discovered the cellphone broken inside Wigginton’s bedroom, while the man later directed troopers to a bathroom cabinet where he hid the handgun from Wigginton after learning she allegedly had stolen it.

Gerhard said the man reported that Wigginton “started to assault” him after learning he had hid the handgun.

Gerhard said in court documents that Wigginton cannot possess a firearm because of a felony conviction for burglary in 2017.

Wigginton was ordered held in the county prison after failing to post $15,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled Jan. 9.