Man Accused Of Shooting Harmony Twp. Officer To Stand Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man accused of shooting a Harmony Township Police officer will stand trial.
Earl Hollins was bound over for trial at a preliminary hearing Tuesday on eight counts, including the attempted homicide of Harmony Township Police Officer Alan Loskoch.
Officer Loskoch was on routine patrol Oct. 28 when he saw a suspect trying to break into a car on Beaver Street.
The suspect pulled a gun and fired several times at the passenger-side of the cruiser, striking the car, and Officer Loskoch, who returned fire through the windshield.
The suspect ran away and responding officers found the police officer unconscious in his patrol car.
His bulletproof vest saved his life, prompting the Beaver County District Attorney to make sure all police departments have the proper equipment.
"I want an accounting from towns of just how old some of their equipment is," said District Attorney Anthony Berosh. "This is a case to build on."
A three day manhunt ensued, and eventually, Hollins surrendered.
But in court Tuesday, Hollins' attorney questioned how well Officer Loskoch could identify his client, in the dark, at 4 o'clock in the morning.
"The only witness to the crime is the officer who was shot. I don't have any negative comments about the officer and his bravery on the street, but judging from the fact that it is a life-threatening situation and things move very quickly, it does something to people psychologically," said attorney Al Burke. "That is going to be important moving forward as to how well that identification will hold up in court."
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