Cop Fired, Charged With Pointing A Gun At Ex-Wife's Husband
LIGONIER, Pa. (AP) - A western Pennsylvania police officer accused of pointing a gun at his ex-wife's husband and threatening to kill him has been fired.
The Ligonier Borough Council voted on Thursday to terminate Cpl. Edward Huwalt.
Westmoreland County detectives say Huwalt was in uniform and driving a marked sport utility vehicle when he pulled up next to Charles Knupp on Jan. 24 in a grocery store parking lot.
A police complaint describes the incident:
Knupp: What's up?
Huwalt: (allegedly pointing pistol) I'm going to kill you...how's that feel?
Knupp: You don't scare me, Ed.
That is when Knupp got into his car and drove away.
The 61-year-old Huwalt was arraigned Wednesday on charges including making terroristic threats and reckless endangerment.
Mayor Ormond Bellas says Huwalt's firing stemmed directly from the criminal charges, and that for 31 years the officer did his job well.
"He was very dedicated, he could fill in when the chief had to go out of town or do something special," Bellas said. "His emotions got the better of him."
Bellas went on to say that the firing was not an easy decision.
"It was a difficult call for the council, we all feel very bad about it because it effects his family as well him," he said. "It had to be done. Nobody likes to have it happen any where."
A preliminary hearing is expected on Feb. 23.
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