Woman arrested after holding teen at knifepoint

Rochelle Pinkle, 40, of New Castle, was arrested after, police said, she stabbed a woman, held a teenager hostage and bit police officers at the Watson Institute in Sewickley Wednesday morning.

In a criminal complaint, Leet Township police said they were called to the Watson Institute around 9 a.m. Wednesday for reports of a stabbing at the school, located at 301 Camp Meeting Road in Sewickley. According to the school’s website, the Watson Institute “helps children with special needs achieve their fullest potential in all aspects of their lives.”

A female staff member at the school was stabbed two times in the upper back area, according to the complaint.

Upon arrival, officers found Ms. Pinkle and a 14year-old boy in a school van in the parking lot.

“While negotiating with Ms. Pinkle, officers were able to observe her holding a knife in the direction of the juvenile’s upper body and head at an arm’s length away,” police said in the complaint.

Officers said they were able to safely remove the teenager from the van and into the custody of school staff, while the school was on lockdown at the time.

Ms. Pinkle did not willingly surrender to officers, police said. They used a taser and took her into custody. Officers said that “multiple officers were kicked in their legs and two officers were bitten.”

The adult victim was taken to Allegheny General Hospital where she is “successfully recovering,” Leet Township police said in a Facebook post. They also said the teenager is safe and with their parents.

Police said that because a taser was used, Ms. Pinkle was taken to Heritage Valley Sewickley to be cleared for incarceration. She was arraigned Thursday morning and was taken to the Allegheny County Jail, according to court records. She was unable to post $50,000 bail.

Ms. Pinkle is charged with several counts of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, possessing an instrument of crime, possession of weapon on school property, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief and resisting arrest, court documents show.

A preliminary hearing for Ms. Pinkle is scheduled for Nov. 30 in front of district judge Robert L. Ford, according to court documents.

Kara Mostowy, chief development officer at the Watson Institute, said Wednesday that “our staff followed safety and emergency preparedness procedures and at all times, the safety of our students and staff was secured.”