Fraternity house suspended as 2 allege sex assaults
PHILADELPHIA » A Temple University fraternity house where two teenage students said they were sexually assaulted has been suspended, and police are investigating.
A 19-year-old student reported she was assaulted at Alpha Epsilon Pi’s fraternity house in February by one of the fraternity’s members, police Capt. Mark Burgmann said on Friday. That case has been sent to the Philadelphia district attorney’s office to review for possible charges.
Another 19-year-old student told police she attended a party at the frat in March and was given several drinks. She said she became dizzy, lost consciousness and woke up later in bed with a fraternity member. She said she felt she’d been sexually assaulted.
Both students came forward this month.
A third student approached Temple University police recently with similar allegations, but Philadelphia police have not interviewed her.
A spokesman for Alpha Epsilon Pi International Fraternity said the fraternity was “very concerned about these allegations” and was fully cooperating with authorities.
“Alpha Epsilon Pi is a fraternity based in Jewish values, and anyone associated with such alleged behavior has no place in our fraternity and will be removed immediately,” spokesman Jonathan Pierce said.
Temple announced on Friday the chapter had been suspended over the allegations, which also include possible drug use and underage drinking.
On Sunday, the Temple chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi posted on Instagram it was appalled by the accusations, adding the behavior alleged by the accusers is “against everything that we stand for.”
Pennsylvania payrolls hit record high, jobless rate flat
HARRISBURG, PA. » Pennsylvania’s payrolls crept to a record high in March as the unemployment rate remained flat for a 10th straight month.
The state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday that Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in March for the 10th straight month. The national rate is 4.1 percent.
A survey of households found Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force shrank by 18,000, falling further below its 2012 record high as employment and unemployment dropped.
A separate survey of employers showed seasonally adjusted non-farm payrolls rose by about 2,700 in March, which was good enough to reach a record high just above 6 million.
Friday’s figures are preliminary and could change.
The education and health services sector saw the biggest gain. Sectors with the biggest losses were manufacturing and financial activities.
Man sentenced for DWI crash that killed his 3 hunting pals
GREENE, PA. » A man who was driving drunk when he struck a tree, killing three friends who were on a hunting trip with him, is now headed to prison.
Thomas Howey Jr. was sentenced Thursday to 6 to 20 years. The 52-yearold Palmer man had pleaded guilty in February to homicide by vehicle and related charges.
Authorities say Howey was speeding when the crash occurred in November 2015. His three passengers — 58-yearold Timothy Gerhard, of Plainfield Township; 46-year-old Barry Foose Jr., of Easton, and 38-year-old Eric Dunbar, of Roseto — were all pronounced dead at the scene.
Howey was critically injured in the crash but has since recovered.
Authorities say Foose was married to Howey’s cousin. Dunbar was a friend of Foose’s whom he had just introduced to the others.
Authorities: Man held 5 hostage at home, injured woman
PITTSBURGH » A man accused of holding five people hostage at a Pittsburgh home and injuring a woman there is now facing several charges.
The standoff started shortly before midnight Thursday, when authorities say officers responded to the home and saw 35-year-old Allen McCarthy barricaded inside with three women, including the injured female. They say two men who were inside the home earlier were able to safely escape.
McCarthy eventually surrendered without incident about an hour later. He was treated at a hospital for minor injuries, while the woman was hospitalized in stable conditions with undisclosed injuries.
McCarthy is charged with false imprisonment, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and drugrelated offenses. It’s not known if he’s retained an attorney.