Episcopal priest arrested after allegedly stealing one specific item from Walmart 5 days in a row



The head priest and dean of an Episcopalian church in Pennsylvania is in trouble with the law due to a recent string of alleged thefts.

According to police, a Walmart store says it has the priest on security video stealing for five days straight, snatching up items and leaving without paying.

'Please pray for Aidan.'

The Very Reverend Aidan Smith from the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh was arrested at the end of February after he allegedly continuously stole from a Walmart in Economy Borough. As ABC News reported, police said Smith was arrested with 27 packs of baseball cards concealed under his clothing in a carboard box.

The arrest came after five consecutive days of allegedly stealing baseball cards, with each alleged theft ranging from $121-$261 of merchandise.

Walmart has reportedly valued the cards at $1,099.99 total, and the reverend has been charged with receiving stolen property and retail theft.

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Following Smith's arrest, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, the Right Reverend Ketlen Solak, sent a message to cathedral members addressing the situation.

"I have spoken with Aidan and assured him of our prayers for him in this difficult time," Solak wrote, per NBC News. "Please pray for Aidan, for Melanie and their children, for the entire cathedral congregation as we grieve this news, and for everyone involved in this hard situation," she concluded.

Diocesan officials will reportedly investigate the situation and follow church procedure for the handling of clergy misconduct.

According to Solak, Smith has been on administrative leave from the cathedral since late January but did not provide details as to why.

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According to CBS Pittsburgh, Trinity Episcopal is the largest cathedral under the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, with Smith responsible for its daily operations.

As of Tuesday, the reverend is reportedly out on bail and awaiting trial, set for April.

Walmart is seeking $873 in restitution after only some of the cards have been recovered.

Smith reportedly offered no reason to police for the alleged thefts when he was arrested, and his attorney has declined comment to multiple outlets.

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Male breaks window of home after midnight. Homeowner warns him he has a gun — then uses it when intruder keeps advancing.



A male broke the window of a Pennsylvania home after midnight Monday and demanded to be let in. But the awakened homeowner warned him he had a gun — and then pulled the trigger when the intruder kept advancing.

State police said in a news release on X that troopers were called to a home on Locust Street in Somerset Township around 2 a.m. for the reported shooting, KDKA-TV reported. Somerset Township is about 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

'Another one bites the dust.'

Investigators found one person dead near the rear of the residence with an apparent gunshot wound to the head, the station said.

State police said the homeowner told investigators he woke up when a male demanding to be let in the residence was banging on his kitchen window, KDKA said.

The station, citing the news release, reported that the male soon broke a window and tried to enter the home.

The homeowner told authorities he warned the male that he was armed and then shot him when he continued trying to enter the home, KDKA said.

RELATED: Florida home invader threatens homeowner with weapon, advances toward him, refuses to leave. But crook picks wrong victim.

While the homeowner was detained and taken to the state police barracks in Somerset, a preliminary investigation found that the homeowner was acting in self-defense, the station said.

The identity of the fatally shot male was not released as of Monday evening, KDKA said.

No other information was released Monday, the station said, adding that those with information can contact the state police barracks in Somerset at 814-445-4104. State police told KDKA the investigation is continuing.

Somerset County District Attorney Tom Leiden previously reported that no charges have been filed at this time, and there is no danger to the public, according to WJAC-TV.

Commenters under WJAC's Facebook post about the incident seemed pleased with the outcome:

  • "Good for the homeowner," one commenter wrote. "Defending his property & his life."
  • "It’s exactly what people will do to protect themselves and their families from harm from people that have no business being there," another user said. "99% would do the same thing."
  • "Another one bites the dust," another commenter declared.

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FBI: Illegal Alien Voted In 5 Presidential Elections After He Was Supposed To Be Deported

A noncitizen illegally present in the U.S. allegedly cast ballots in five presidential elections and falsely claimed to be a citizen when registering to vote, according to a document recently filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. An affidavit by FBI Special Agent Mickel McGann reveals that Mauritanian national Mahady […]

ISIS-inspired? Here's what we know about the weekend NYC terror attack suspects.



Two Pennsylvania residents with alleged ties to radical Islam were arrested in New York City on Saturday after homemade explosive devices were ignited in an apparent attempt to target anti-Islam protesters gathered outside Gracie Mansion, the residence of the city’s first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani (D).

The New York Police Department identified the two suspects as 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi.

'All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds!'

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch claimed that Balat lit and threw an improvised explosive device toward a group of demonstrators participating in the “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” protest outside Gracie Mansion.

A video of the suspect appeared to show him yelling, “Allahu Akbar,” as he threw the smoking device toward the crowd. Balat then allegedly ran southbound, grabbing a second device from Kayumi. Balat was accused of lighting the second device and dropping it near police officers as he ran away.

Tisch confirmed that the devices were IEDs and “could have caused serious injury or death.” However, no explosions or injuries were reported after the devices seemingly malfunctioned.

Balat’s parents were born in Turkey and became U.S. citizens nearly a decade ago, CBS News reported. Balat, who was living with his parents, is a U.S. citizen. He reportedly traveled to Turkey recently and returned to the U.S. in January. He reportedly spent several months in Turkey last year.

Kayumi’s parents are reportedly from Afghanistan and became U.S. citizens over 15 years ago. He reportedly traveled to Turkey and Saudi Arabia in 2024.

RELATED: Counter-protester lights explosive amid anti-Mamdani protest, utters 'Allahu Akbar' — but NYC mayor rips 'bigotry and racism'

Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

FBI agents were observed on Sunday searching the suspects’ homes in Bucks County, ABC News reported.

Balat is a student in the Neshaminy School District, and Kayumi graduated from Council Rock High School North in 2024, CBS News reported. Both are located in Bucks County.

The federal criminal complaint revealed that Balat and Kayumi are facing several charges, including attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the use of a weapon of mass destruction, transportation of explosive materials, interstate transportation and receipt of explosives, and unlawful possession of destructive devices.

According to the complaint, while in law enforcement custody, Balat stated, “This isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet. … We take action! We take action! ... If I didn’t do it, someone else will come and do it.”

Balat, who waived his Miranda rights, requested officers provide him with a piece of paper, on which he allegedly wrote, “All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds! I pledge my allegience [sic] to the Islamic State. Die in your rage yu [sic] kuffar! Emir B.”

The complaint explained that “kuffar” is an Arabic word that refers to “non-believers” or “infidels.” It also noted that “die in your rage” is a verse in the Quran often invoked by ISIS.

Balat also allegedly told law enforcement that he hoped his attack attempt would be “even bigger” than the Boston Marathon bombing in 2023.

RELATED: Liberal media covers for Saturday's NYC terror attack suspects — then the facts come out

Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

The criminal complaint accused Kayumi of stating that he was motivated by ISIS. After waiving his Miranda rights, he allegedly suggested to law enforcement that he was affiliated with the terrorist group. He also allegedly admitted to watching ISIS propaganda.

An FBI special agent explained in the complaint that a preliminary analysis found that the first explosive device, which Balat was accused of throwing into a crowd of protesters, contained triacetone triperoxide.

“Based on my training and experience, I know that TATP is colloquially known as the ‘Mother of Satan’; is extremely sensitive to impact, friction, and heat; and has been used in multiple terrorist attacks over the last decade,” the agent wrote.

Following the arrests of Balat and Kayumi, police identified a parked vehicle several blocks south of Gracie Mansion that had a New Jersey license plate registered to one of Balat’s family members.

Kayumi’s mother filed a missing person report on or about March 7, stating that she last saw her son at their Pennsylvania residence at approximately 10:30 a.m. earlier that day, the criminal complaint noted.

Balat and Kayumi remain in custody.

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Illegal alien allegedly voted in 2024 federal election, when Trump and Kamala were on the ballot



An illegal alien residing in Philadelphia has been charged with unlawfully voting in the 2024 general election, when Republican candidate Donald Trump was running against then-Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Department of Justice announced on Thursday the criminal charges and the arrest of Mahady Sacko, 50.

'Illegal aliens ARE registering to vote in Pennsylvania.'

Sacko, who entered the U.S. in 1998, was previously ordered deported in 2000 but remained in the United States.

He allegedly falsely represented himself as a U.S. citizen to register to vote and cast a ballot in federal elections, after initially registering in January 2005.

Sacko also voted in in federal elections in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, according the criminal complaint shared by Fox News Digital.

Voting records indicated that Sacko registered as a Democrat, the Philadelphia Inquirer stated.

Sacko, who is from Mauritania, now faces up to five years in prison for his alleged crimes.

RELATED: Jasmine Crockett claims voters were 'disenfranchised' following crushing defeat in key Texas primary

Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Sacko in 2007. ICE attempted to deport him, but his Mauritanian passport had expired, and the agency could not obtain one for him. Unable to return Sacko to his home country, he was released from ICE custody and ordered to check in with the agency.

“Sacko voted in person for each of these elections, except for the 2020 primary election, in which he voted by mail. On each occasion, Sacko falsely represented that he was a U.S. citizen,” an FBI special agent wrote in the criminal complaint.

RELATED: ‘Turnaround for the ages’: Trump boasts victory at the southern border — 0 illegal aliens entered in 9 months

Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images

Conservative activist Scott Presler reacted to the news of Sacko’s arrest.

“The DOJ just indicted an illegal alien for voting in the 2024 election in Pennsylvania,” Presler wrote in a post on social media. “I went a step further & discovered that he’s registered as a democrat in Philadelphia. We have proof. Illegal aliens ARE registering to vote in Pennsylvania.”

“We are getting the data for the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania voter rolls before the Department of State does a massive purge,” Presler wrote in a subsequent post. “Now, we know what to look for!”

Sacko’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

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'Despicable' homicide suspect caught on body cam pointing gun at Florida deputy — and pulling trigger, cops say



A "despicable" homicide suspect was caught on bodycam video pointing a gun at a Florida deputy and pulling the trigger, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said Monday.

Authorities said the Feb. 20 incident took place in Port Charlotte, which is about an hour southeast of Sarasota.

'Let me be clear: This individual is lucky to be alive today.'

Deputies got word that two suspects from a Sarasota County burglary were driving through their jurisdiction in a rental car, officials said.

After observing a traffic violation, deputies stopped the car and made contact with the occupants, officials said.

The driver was identified as 41-year-old Amy Lee; the passenger refused to provide his identification, officials said.

At first, neither Lee nor the passenger complied with deputy commands to exit the vehicle, but officials said they soon obeyed when they were told they would be arrested for obstruction.

Officials learned that Lee was arrested last year on multiple felony charges and that her co-defendant in those cases was 55-year-old Brian Hewson. He turned out to be the passenger in the rental vehicle, and he also had multiple warrants for his arrest, officials said.

Hewson "immediately resisted" when deputies tried placing him under arrest, and a deputy drew his agency-issued taser while shouting a warning, officials said.

But Hewson pulled a concealed firearm, pointed it directly at the deputy, and pulled the trigger, officials said.

However, there was no round in the chamber of the loaded gun, officials said, and it didn't fire.

With that, the deputy discharged additional taser probes — yet Hewson still tried to re-rack the gun, officials said.

"Thankfully, due to the neuromuscular incapacitation, Hewson was unable to maintain control of the gun, and it was secured by deputies," officials said.

RELATED: Florida felon named Blackie accused of pointing gun at vehicle in fit of road rage

Officials said Hewson was arrested for multiple warrants — including one for homicide in Pennsylvania, one for failure to appear in Pennsylvania, and charges in Lee County related to trafficking stolen property.

He also was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer for intentionally pointing a firearm at a CCSO deputy, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance (1.1 grams of fentanyl found in the vehicle), resisting with violence, and possession of drug paraphernalia, officials said.

He was being held at the Charlotte County Jail without bond, officials said.

RELATED: Knifed for 'being a Christian'? Suspect allegedly stabs man and his dog after asking about victim's religion

Brian Hewson. Image source: Charlotte County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office

“Let me be clear: This individual is lucky to be alive today," Sheriff Bill Prummell said, adding that "I want to be sure it is understood that my deputies are trained to eliminate a lethal threat with deadly force. They deserve to go home to their families after their shift. This despicable human tried to take one of my deputies out instead of being a man and accepting accountability for his own decisions. Now he will face the justice he has tried to dodge for so long ... and I hope he spends the rest of his days behind bars.”

The sheriff's office added in its Facebook post about the incident that "as a point of clarification: We see a few people questioning why our deputy went taser instead of lethal. The answer to that is that he already had the taser in hand before the firearm was seen. Had our deputy attempted to switch from taser to firearm, he likely would have already been shot. The reaction, in the moment, is to use the taser that was already drawn and aimed to incapacitate the suspect. As you can see in the video, this happened VERY quickly."

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Brawl breaks out when police chief in street clothes tries to arrest HS girl protesting ICE. Now some want chief to resign.



A brawl broke out late last week after a police chief dressed in street clothes tried to arrest a high school girl who allegedly was causing trouble amid a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement — and now some residents in the southeastern Pennsylvania borough of Quakertown want the chief to resign.

The Bucks County Courier Times said a probable cause affidavit provides the first official police account of what led to the arrest of five Quakertown High School students.

'Everybody was confused because nobody knew it was a policeman. He was in regular clothes. We were just like, "Why is the man attacking us?"'

At least 35 students participated in the Friday walkout to protest ICE, the Courier Times said, citing the affidavit.

Quakertown police had been monitoring the protest “from a safe distance” and assisting with road closures after students left the high school campus and headed into the downtown business district, the paper said.

More from the Courier Times:

Early in the protest Friday police allege they noticed a large group of protesters move into the road in the 100 block of East Broad Street, and a girl kicked a white pickup truck on the passenger side several times and hit the side mirror with her hand, the affidavit said.

Protesters also threw “ice balls” at vehicles, stood on public benches, and police approached the group and requested they protest respectfully, and keep the sidewalk clear, the affidavit said.

In a statement issued Friday, Quakertown police alleged student protesters threw snowballs at vehicles, kicked cars, and “damaged property such as tearing a side mirror from a car.”

The police statement also said that additional officers were called to the scene when confrontations with students escalated “and some individuals assaulted officers.”

However, the paper said witnesses and protesters alleged that motorists followed the students and revved their engines, blew exhaust fumes at them, and yelled taunts at the students.

The Courier Times, citing the affidavit, said students who continued walking toward Front Street were yelling obscenities “at the officers and in general."

RELATED: Praise rolls in for high school suspending hundreds of students over anti-ICE walkout: 'Adults are taking charge'

Police said a 15-year-old female protester was seen "numerous times" walking in the road, including in front of moving vehicles and blocking traffic, and she was warned to stay on the sidewalk, the paper reported.

An officer allegedly ordered the girl to come across the street to be detained, and when she started to walk away from him, the officer grabbed her arm, the Courier Times said, citing the affidavit.

With that, other teen protesters confronted the officer and pulled the girl away, which allowed her to slip into the crowd, the paper said, citing the affidavit.

The officer radioed for assistance, the affidavit said, after which Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree, 72, and a sergeant arrived at the scene. The officer pointed to the girl he was trying to detain, and McElree allegedly attempted to arrest her — but a boy was pulling her away, the affidavit added.

More from the Courier Times:

After McElree grabbed the boy, he pulled away and struck the chief in the head with his cell phone multiple times, the affidavit said.

The boy was eventually taken to the ground and placed in custody after he intervened again attempting to keep McElree away from the 15-year-old girl, according to the document.

Multiple teens encircled McElree and began to punch and hit him including the 15-year-old girl that police were originally attempting to detain, the affidavit said.

The paper, citing the affidavit, added that a sergeant saw another teen boy dressed in black come up behind McElree and hit him three times on the right side of his face and rib area. With that, the sergeant grabbed the teen, took him down, and placed him in handcuffs, the Courier Times said.

RELATED: Juvenile hit by car at student anti-ICE protest in Florida

Another police officer saw a girl hit McElree in the head with her backpack while the chief was on the ground grappling with a female protester, the paper said, citing the affidavit.

What's more, a detective who responded to the scene allegedly saw a girl punch McElree in the head, after which the detective caught the girl and placed her on the sidewalk, where she allegedly kicked him several times while being handcuffed, the Courier Times said.

The girl whom police originally wanted to detain was taken into custody, the paper said, adding that her attorney, Ettore "Ed" Angelo, on Tuesday denied his client had any physical contact with McElree.

In all, five students were arrested and taken to juvenile detention.

Three of them were released Tuesday, the Courier Times said, adding that the status of the remaining two is unknown, and the Bucks County District Attorney's Office has released no information as of Tuesday. The DA's office on Thursday did not immediately respond to Blaze News' question regarding how many students have been released.

Authorities have not released their names, ages, and charges since they're juveniles, but the paper said it confirmed that at least two of the students face felony aggravated assault charges.

RELATED: Video shows brawl after high school walkout protester allegedly hit pro-ICE man — and the man is charged with child abuse

The Courier Times, citing the affidavit, said McElree was treated at a hospital for nonspecific injuries. The paper added that his face was covered in blood as he left the scene; however, in a cellphone video posted to social media he's heard telling an officer that he was "fine."

Since the melee, McElree has been facing increasing backlash, including calls for him to resign. One of the issues is that the chief was not in uniform and allegedly did not identify himself as a police officer, the Courier Times said.

Ashley Orellana, a Quakertown High School senior and friend of one of the arrested students, told WPVI-TV that "everybody was confused because nobody knew it was a policeman. He was in regular clothes. We were just like, 'Why is the man attacking us?'"

Orellana attended a hearing Tuesday to support one of the defendants, the station said, adding that Robert McMillion, who witnessed his younger sister's arrest, also was in attendance.

"The chief, the unmarked man, he just started attacking us first, and something should be happening to him instead of the kids," McMillion told WPVI.

At a borough council meeting Monday night, parents and community members called for McElree to resign or be fired, the station said.

RELATED: Girl says she fought 'old,' 'racist' man with MAGA hat at ICE protest — and excuses fellow teen brawlers

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania alleged that McElree violated his commitment to "serve and protect" his community amid the incident, WHYY-TV reported.

"By all accounts, including abundant video evidence, there were no issues at the demonstration until Quakertown police arrived and incited violence," Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, told the station in a statement.

Walczak added to WHYY that "the police should have been there to facilitate the demonstration, ensuring that the students could safely exercise their rights to assemble and speak out freely as guaranteed by our Constitution. They failed. In abandoning his job and his mission on Friday afternoon, Chief McElree effectively was acting as a counter-protester, albeit one with the ability to arrest people. Quakertown deserves better."

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ROOKE: Trump Assassination Plot Goes Unnoticed As Media Refuses To Look In Mirror

'Sadly, Americans are likely to see a lot more violence before the end of this year'