State police arrest several in connection to North Franklin bar fight
Mike Jones
State police arrested nearly a dozen men Tuesday in connection to a fight involving gunfire at a bar in North Franklin Township earlier this year.
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh issued a press release announcing the arrest of 10 individuals. However, the release provided very little detail regarding the arrests.
The affidavits of probable cause laying out the specific allegations are under seal until a preliminary hearing, tentatively scheduled for Dec. 16. However, the rest of the criminal complaints offer some insight into the case.
According to the criminal complaints, the charges stem from an incident that occurred shortly after 12:30 a.m. Aug. 17 at Forty Bar and Grille at 3390 W. Chestnut St., North Franklin Township.
The events at the bar led to the cancellation of Rally on Main in downtown Washington the following weekend. At the time, Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess said the incident involved two biker groups and that there were threats of retaliation.
Arrested were Paul Randall Prevost, 30, of Washington; Eric Steven Hadrych, 44, of Avella; Daniel Louis Ullrick, 75, of Pittsburgh; Benjamin Brian Bowman, 32, of Bulger; Khristopher A. Gardner, 43, of McDonald; Jerry Lee Barnett, 31, of Canonsburg; Corey Wayne Palmer, 55, of Washington; Clark Oscar Young, 40, of Washington; and Robert Scott Conner, 53, of Uniontown.
Walsh’s press release also identified another person as being arrested, but no docket was listed on online court records.
Charges vary between the men. Prevost, Hadrych, Ullrick and Bowman are each charged with felonies of conspiracy to violate the corrupt organizations law and riot with intent to commit a felony. The rest face aggravated assault charges, while Gardner and Young are also charged with robbery.
Court records state that Palmer pointed a handgun at multiple people and fired the weapon into the air and ground. Palmer is accused of attempting to harm “unknown probably Wardog members” in court documents.
The War Dogs is a motorcycle club.
Palmer, however, is also listed as a victim in other criminal complaints. Conner allegedly pointed a gun at Palmer, while Barnett allegedly struck him with a blunt object, court documents allege.
Charging documents accuse Gardner and Young of holding down Jordan Henderson and stealing his firearm. Henderson’s address was not listed in court paperwork.
Additional information on the incident was not available.
All the men were arraigned Tuesday morning before District Judge Michael Manfredi. Manfredi sent Prevost, Hadrych, Ullrick and Bowman to the Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. The rest had their bond set at $250,000.
All are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at noon Dec. 16, at which point the affidavits will be unsealed.