Dispute ends with gun drawn
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — A Westmoreland County man is accused of pointing a loaded handgun at a Slippery Rock University student during a weekend altercation at an off-campus apartment complex.
State police believe Austin J. Newell, 21, of Rillton was intoxicated when he pulled the gun about 12:15 a.m. Sunday at University Village at Slippery Rock in Slippery Rock Township. No one was injured.
Troopers arrested Newell after he allegedly admitted displaying the firearm.
He was arraigned on misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats, simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct, and summary counts of harassment and public drunkenness.
He remains free on $25,000 bail.
A security guard at the apartment complex told police that he was walking his rounds shortly after midnight when he heard two men shouting, according to court documents.
Moments later, the guard came upon Newell and told him to drop his gun. The defendant complied, police said, and surrendered to the guard.
The other man, Mitchell Tarap, told police that he and his girlfriend were walking through the courtyard when the defendant and another male approached them, documents said.
Tarap's girlfriend recounted that she felt the other male with Newell touch her back. She mentioned it to Tarap, who confronted the defendant.
According to the couple, that's when Newell pulled a gun, pointed it at Tarap and said, “You don't want this problem.”
Tarap responded, “Just go ahead and shoot me then,” according police affidavit.
