Police: Arnold cops find wanted man hiding in closet, 2 charged with hindering his arrest

Two people from Clarion were charged with a felony after Arnold police accused them of hiding a man wanted on a misdemeanor theft charge.

Tyler Bennett, 30, and Amber Jane Adamiak, 31, both of Grand Avenue, each face a felony count of hindering the apprehension of a criminal. Bennett also was charged with a felony county of possession of a controlled substance along with two counts of drug possession.

Adamiak was released from custody on a $25,000 unsecured bond. Bennett is in the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of a $20,000 cash bond, according to court records.

Preliminary hearings on the charges are scheduled for June 2 before District Judge Frank Pallone Jr.

Police said a resident in the 200 block of 16th Street called them shortly before 10 p.m. on May 19 to report that a man wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt broke into a nearby abandoned house, according to a criminal complaint.

A responding officer found a broken padlock on the basement door, which was open, and called for backup before entering the building, police said.

While searching the basement, officers heard footsteps going to the top floor, where they found Bennett and Adamiak, who were taken into custody, according to the complaint.

They told police there were asked to clean the house by Timothy Starr, the complaint said.

Police said the pair repeatedly denied that Starr was in the house even after being told that Starr was wanted on an arrest warrant and they would be charged if they lied about knowing where he was, according to their arrest papers.

Adamiak then told police that Starr was at his mother’s house, the complaint said.

While searching the second floor of the house, officers found Starr, 37, of Arnold, hiding in a bedroom and took him into custody.

He is being detained in the Westmoreland County jail to await a preliminary hearing on the theft charge filed by Arnold police on April 14, according to court records. His preliminary hearing before Pallone is scheduled for June 2.

Starr also is awaiting trial in Westmoreland County on misdemeanor theft and drug charges filed by Arnold police in October 2020, according to court records.