Local woman allegedly tried to run over family in Dunbar Twp.
Police said a woman shouted “Merry Christmas” to a Dunbar Township man putting up Christmas lights before trying to run over him Monday night.
Mary Jo Smith, 47, of Brownsville is facing aggravated assault and other charges in the case.
Alan McCutcheon, 64, told police that Smith has harassed him and his family over the years because of an issue that occurred 25 years ago.
He said Smith pulled up to his Amity Drive house in a Jeep Grand Cherokee at about 5:45 p.m. blaring music when she shouted a holiday greeting and drove directly at him. He said Smith nearly hit him and drove through the yard and over the Christmas decorations before leaving, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in her case.
McCutcheon said his wife, Donna McCutcheon, came home a short time later and he heard an engine rev. He said he pulled his wife inside as the Jeep accelerated toward her at the front door.
“She said had she stood where she was a couple seconds later she would have been struck,” police wrote in the affidavit.
The couple ran upstairs, fearing Smith would drive through the house. Smith allegedly drove in circles around the home, smashing into the house multiple times.
McCutcheon called her daughter, Hilary Hamborsky, 37, of Connellsville who rushed to the house to check on her parents. Smith allegedly accelerated into her vehicle, backed up and hit the vehicle again.
Hamborsky told police she yelled at Smith to get out of the Jeep. Smith allegedly charged at her and grabbed her, but Hamborsky grabbed Smith and threw her on the ground, restraining her until state police arrived, according to the affidavit.
Police said Smith damaged the house, the yard, two vehicles and an above-ground pool. She was allegedly under the influence of alcohol during the assault.
Smith was arraigned at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge Jennifer Jeffries and lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $30,000 bond.
She is charged with two counts each of aggravated assault and criminal mischief, three counts of simple assault and one count of driving under the influence.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 14 before Jeffries.