A Massachusetts man, Thomas Rooney, has been arrested in Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania, after allegedly impersonating a Pittsburgh police officer and threatening a local woman. The incident, which occurred Friday morning, left the woman shaken, but thankfully, police arrived just in time to prevent further escalation.
According to the woman, she was on her couch around 10 a.m. when she heard a vehicle pull up to her driveway on Crows Nest Road. Expecting a package delivery, she was startled when an unknown man began knocking incessantly on her door. After she initially refused to answer, the man identified himself as Officer John Laney of the Pittsburgh Police Department and insisted she open the door.
Concerned, the woman contacted police, who advised her to question the man about his department. When the woman informed the man that she was speaking to law enforcement, his behavior became more aggressive, with him counting down from ten. At this point, the woman was terrified, but police arrived shortly afterward and arrested the suspect, 25-year-old Thomas Rooney.
Rooney, along with another man, had reportedly been in the area offering gravel for driveways. They were driving a Ford F-150 with Massachusetts plates, and there were three other men in the vehicle. However, it was Rooney who was arrested on charges of impersonating a public servant, simple assault, and harassment.
The woman, still shaken by the ordeal, expressed gratitude for police intervention and warned others to trust their instincts and be cautious when interacting with strangers at their door.
Rooney remains in Westmoreland County Jail without bail, awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for February 12. It’s still unclear whether charges will be filed against any of the other individuals involved.
