Crime & Safety
Police Threat Trial Postponed
A man who allegedly threatened police officers on the internet was released to a mental health facility on Wednesday.
A Penn Hills man who was on Facebook was released into his attorney’s custody Wednesday after his trial was postponed.
Kenneth Robert Aquiline, 26, had his bond reduced on the condition that he be taken directly to an in-patient mental health facility. District Judge Linda Zucco postponed his hearing for two weeks to allow time for psychological and drug evaluations.
“I’m looking forward to getting there as soon as possible,” Aquiline told Zucco.
A former Marine, Aquiline was arrested by Plum police and charged with making terroristic threats on May 17 after he allegedly threatened on Facebook to shoot police officers.
that a message since removed from Facebook read: “I serve in the Marines give all I have for six years ... I come back and am homeless ask for help and nobody [expletive] cares ... I bet if I bet if I put some bullets in some cops that deserve it everybody will care.”
After a constable uncuffed Aquiline in the court's lobby Wednesday, defense attorney Albert Reese Jr. led him out the door past TV cameras. Reese said he would be taken to Mercy Behavioral Health.
A hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 6.
