Southwest Greensburg man ordered to jail after allegedly threatening witnesses

District Judge Anthony Bompiani on Tuesday revoked the bond of a Southwest Greensburg man accused of threatening a couple who may be called as witnesses against him in a pending heroin possession case.

Robert L. Friend, 57, was arraigned on charges of intimidating a witness and retaliation against a witness filed by borough police.

Friend was arrested on the drug case May 31 and upon his release the next day from the county jail on bond, he went to the couple’s home “and threatened that if (the witnesses) didn’t stay out of his business … he would settle this right now,” police Sgt. Todd M. Brant wrote in court documents.

The victims told police they instructed Friend to leave their property “several times” during the confrontation, according to police.

“Friend finally departed yelling obscenities at (the victims),” Brant said.

On May 31, officers responded to a report of a drug overdose along the 900 block of Sewickley Street. Police said a woman had overdosed outside an apartment building. Brant said the woman was revived after Mutual Aid paramedics administrated Narcan.

According to police, multiple witnesses reported as police and paramedics arrived at the scene, they saw Friend “placing something in the bushes” near his apartment.

Police recovered three stamp bags of suspected heroin marked “LIFESAVER” from the location, according to Brant. Police arrested Friend at the scene for heroin possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

During Tuesday’s brief proceeding, Bompiani asked Friend if he remembered appearing before the night court district judge and being told that not contacting “any witnesses in the case was a condition of his being released on bond?”

Friend said he did remember the instruction given by District Judge Cheryl Peck-Yakopec.

“Well, I am going to set the bond on this case at $15,000 straight. And I am going to revoke your bond on the other case before me,” Bompiani said.

“Judge, I didn’t realize they were witnesses,” Friend pleaded just before he was placed in handcuffs and led by

borough police to a nearby holding cell.

Friend said he intends to apply for a public defender. A preliminary hearing on both cases was scheduled June 23.