Scott Township, PA (PPP)— A 43-year-old man has been arrested and charged with criminal trespass, institutional vandalism, disorderly conduct, and obstruction of highways after causing a disturbance at his aunt and uncle’s residence in Scott Township.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Magisterial District Court, Nicholas Peluso had been causing disturbances at the same residence on three separate occasions in the past month.

On the day of the incident, Peluso entered the residence without permission, used the garage code to open the door, and began drinking from several bottles of whiskey. When asked to leave, he refused and continued to cause a disturbance. At one point, Peluso entered the road, obstructing traffic, and taking off his clothes. He narrowly avoided being hit by a vehicle after jumping in front of a car, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.

Due to Peluso being homeless and not having an address to send a summons to, he was taken into custody. While being transported to the police station, Peluso struck his head off the partition several times and spat multiple times throughout the holding cell, says the criminal complaint.

Peluso’s aunt and uncle, who stated that he is unstable and needs help, expressed that he is not permitted at their home and continues to show up randomly and unannounced.

Name: Nicholas Peluso
Gender: Male
Age: 43

Agency: Scott Township Police Department

Court: Magisterial District Court 05-2-22
Docket Number: MJ-05222-CR-0000061-2023
Date Filed: March 22, 2023

Bail: $5,000 monetary
Confinement: Allegheny County Jail
Confinement Reason: Unable to post bail. Note: bail was changed to unsecured by Judge Stephens on March 23.

Criminal Charges

1. Criminal trespass – enter structure (Felony 3)
2. Institutional vandalism – educational facility (Misdemeanor 2)
3. Disorderly conduct – hazardous or physically offensive condition (Summary offense)
4. Obstruction highways (Summary offense)

Affidavit of Probable Cause
On Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 1934 hours, Ofc.’s Spaniel, Grace and I responded to ██████████████ for a report of a male obstructing traffic named Nicholas Peluso at that residence causing a disturbance. Dispatch advised Peluso was in front of the residence

Officers are familiar with Peluso through numerous prior interactions and I have personally been to this same residence three times in the past month for Peluso causing disturbances. As I was pulling up to the residence I observed Peluso dancing on the side of the roadway. A vehicle was approaching Peluso and he suddenly jumped in front of the vehicle, which caused the vehicle to swerve into the oncoming lane of traffic, and narrowly missed striking Peluso. I pulled up to the location and Peluso walked into the driveway and laid down prone with his hands out to the side. I placed Peluso in handcuffs and he was placed into the back of Ofc. Spaniel’s police vehicle.

I then spoke with the callers, ███████ and ███████. ███████ and ███████ are married, reside at ██████████████ and they are Peluso’s aunt and uncle. ███████ stated today at approximately 1700 hours she was inside her residence working on her computer. ███████ stated she does not hear real well but she suddenly heard someone pounding on the door of the room she was in. ███████ found Peluso had entered the house without permission through the garage door by using the code to open the door. Both ███████ and ███████ stated Peluso is currently homeless and he is not permitted to enter the residence unannounced.

███████ stated Peluso then entered the liquor cabinet and began to drink from several bottles of whiskey. ███████ stated she tried to get him to leave the house but he refused to do so. ███████ arrived home and they were able to get Peluso out of the house and into the front yard, where he remained until our arrival. ███████ and Peluso both stated Peluso entered into ███████ Road multiple times, obstructing traffic, laying in the roadway and taking off his clothes. They stated he was almost struck several times by vehicles when he would walk into the roadway in front of passing vehicles.

███████ and ███████ both stated Peluso is not permitted at their home and he continues to show up randomly and unannounced. They stated Peluso is unstable and needs help.

Due to Peluso being homeless and not having an address to send a summons to, he was taken into custody. While being transported to the Scott Twp. Police station, Peluso struck his head off the partition several times. While inside the holding cell, Peluso spit multiple times throughout the cell, which caused it to be taken out of service and have to be professionally cleaned.

Peluso will be taken to the ACJ.