Man arraigned in Mount Pleasant strip club shooting
A man who reportedly had a personal vendetta against a strip club was charged for allegedly shooting at the building and ultimately returning to the location on a tractor.
Ronald Lee Funk, 59, of Mount Pleasant was arraigned Wednesday morning in the alleged shooting last month at The Hideout Gentleman’s Club in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County.
No injuries were reported.
Police said six people were in the building when Funk allegedly shot at it.
Funk allegedly went to the club at least three times between about 11 p.m. May 22 and 5:30 a.m. the next day after a dispute over a cover charge.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, he went home after the first dispute and told his wife “I want that place to go down.” Police said he came back with a rifle, then a shotgun, and then a tractor.
The altercation began when Funk showed up at the club without a cover charge and allegedly tried to punch the doorman. The employee, Jason Kimmel, punched Funk and knocked him to the ground, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Funk gave police a different version of the story during an interview. He said he came without money, “but he was allowed to stay for a few minutes and someone even offered him a cigar and cigarettes,” the affidavit said.
He told police he returned with $20, but tried to punch the doorman while handing it to him. Funk claimed that the next thing he remembered was waking up on the floor with three or four men standing over him with baseball bats.
He said that prompted him to return with a .270 Remington rifle and two rounds of ammunition.
Funk told police he shot at the windows of the building, but aimed high so he would not hurt anyone.
He went home again, then returned with an Ithica .12-caliber shotgun and two rounds, which he fired at the sign.
According to the affidavit, he told police “I wanted to rip that sign down,” so he returned again, riding his John Deere tractor and rammed the sign.
Funk allegedly caused about $1,000 in damage.
Funk is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, reckless endangerment, simple assault and criminal mischief.
He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Roger F. Eckels.
A $50,000 bond was posted on his behalf, according to court documents.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Aug. 11 before Eckels.