PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Officials say an Erie, Pennsylvania postal worker admits to making up claims of ballot tampering. The Washington Post reports that Richard Hopkins’ claim that a postmaster in Erie instructed postal workers to backdate ballots mailed after election day was fabricated. The claim was cited by Sen. Lindsey Graham in a letter to the Justice Department calling for a federal investigation. But on Monday, Hopkins, 32, told investigators from the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General that the allegations weren’t true, and recanted his signed affidavit reports the Washing ..read more

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — The attorney for a protester kicked by a northwestern Pennsylvania police officer as she was sitting on the street during civil unrest in Erie last month has filed court papers seeking the officer’s identity. Attorney Timothy McNair said Monday he had filed for a writ of summons against the officers involved in the May 30 incident and expects to file a formal complaint alleging excessive force and unconstitutional action. Erie officials announced last week that the unnamed officer would be suspended without pay for three days and would then be on desk duty until he completes s ..read more

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania police officer seen on video kicking a protester sitting on the street during civil unrest in Erie last month will be suspended without pay for three days and will then be on desk duty until he completes sensitivity training, officials said. The Erie Times-News reports that Mayor Joe Schember, who did not identify the officer, said Monday that similar training will be required for the entire department. He called the officer a veteran of the force “who has no prior complaints and has never exhibited any kind of behavior that warranted disciplinary action.” Schem ..read more

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Two men from Erie are now facing federal charges for their role in protests in Cleveland last week. The pair were arrested by the FBI and agents found them in possession of weapons and accelerant. Police say that they were initially arrested for violating the city’s curfew. Meanwhile, Cleveland says they are prepared for any other potential problems. “Everyone has the right for peaceful demonstrations and protests, but once there’s violence against people or destruction of property, then we need to take actions to address that,” said Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. Investiga ..read more

ERIE, Pa. (KDKA) — An Erie man caught a huge fish that is considered endangered, and can live up to 100 years. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission says that Nick Lohrer of Fairview, PA caught the Bigmouth Buffalo in Presque Isle Bay last week. Lohrer says the fish was 40-inches long, with a 28-inch girth. He told Erie News Now that the fish was caught in Misery Bay near the Perry Monument. “We just were cruising around and we found a big school of fish on the fish finder, and we started catching some big fish and I hooked into something fairly large and when we both saw it come up to th ..read more

CHEYENNE, Wy. (KDKA) — The vehicle belonging to missing Erie woman, Jordan Lampus, was found in Wyoming and is being considered suspicious. Lampus is missing from Erie, Pennsylvania. According to Cheyenne Police Department’s Facebook page, Wyoming Highway Patrol located Lampus’ blue 2006 Toyota Sienna Van with the license plate GGL-1167 parked on the side of the road. Lampus was not located in the vehicle. Tina Lampus has been hoping and praying to hear some good news. The last time she talked to her daughter was Friday. She was expecting the 22-year old college student at Gannon University t ..read more

ERIE, Pa. (AP) – Authorities say a reputed drug deal turned into a botched robbery that ended with a man fatally shot and charges filed against several people. Three men and a woman had arranged to meet with the man Sunday under the guise of buying marijuana from him, authorities said, but they actually planned to rob him. Shortly after the dealer got in the vehicle, authorities said one of the men took out a gun. When the dealer was told to leave the car, he instead grabbed the gun and a struggle ensued. The dealer was shot a short time later and died at a hospital. (Copyright 2020 The Associ ..read more

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A man convicted of stabbing his girlfriend to death amid an impending breakup last year has been sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. James Gilbert, 25, read a statement of apology before he was sentenced Friday in Erie County Court, the Erie Times-News reported. “I beat myself up every single day over what has happened,” he said. Gilbert was convicted last month of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and possession of an instrument of crime. His attorney argued that the crime wasn’t premeditated, but prosecutors said he took a ..read more

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A man who fatally shot his girlfriend and wounded her pregnant co-worker at a Pizza Hut in Erie has been sentenced to life in prison. A judge on Tuesday ordered 49-year-old Luis Rodriguez to serve the mandatory sentence without parole for first-degree murder in the death of 25-year-old Alicia Stalheim. Rodriguez claimed he was drunk and didn’t intend to kill Stalheim at the pizzeria on Nov. 24. The judge also sentenced Rodriguez to an additional 23 to 46 years in prison for shooting Stalheim’s 27-year-old co-worker, Ashleigh Fuhrman, in the shoulder. Fuhrman suffered nerve dam ..read more

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a Pennsylvania homeowner who heard someone singing inside his home found a naked man drinking milk in his kitchen. Erie police say the homeowner heard the singing around 3 a.m. Monday. He grabbed his pistol, went to investigate and soon found the man sitting on the kitchen floor. The homeowner called police and the man was taken into custody. It wasn’t clear how he entered the home or how long he had been in the residence. No injuries were reported. The man’s name has not been released. Authorities have not filed any charges against him so far, but they say the ..read more