Man accused in Westmoreland County crime spree claims 'misunderstanding'
Alex Kerestesy, 31, was in court Thursday
Alex Kerestesy, 31, was in court Thursday
Alex Kerestesy, 31, was in court Thursday
A 31-year-old man is being held without bail in the Westmoreland County jail following multiple bizarre incidents in the Greensburg area.
Alex Kerestesy told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 the entire incident was not what it seemed.
"The whole thing is a misunderstanding," Kerestesy said outside of court Thursday. "I was just trying to get some mental health help out of Greensburg."
Greensburg police arrested Kerestesy on June 19 after he was found pushing a grocery cart along East Pittsburgh Street in his underwear. Moments earlier, police said Kerestesy robbed a nearby Rite Aid and threatened the store manager.
"He told the manager he wasn't paying for the items and 'if you don't get out of my way I'm going to shoot you and when the police come I'm going to shoot them also,'" Greensburg police Chief Shawn Denning said.
Police said Kerestesy admitted to using meth, and was tased by police while they attempted to take him into custody.
Earlier that same day, police in South Greensburg arrested Kerestesy following an altercation at the Knights Inn. Police in that case said Kerestesy damaged the entryway to the motel.
Kerestesy waived his preliminary hearing in the Greensburg case Thursday. He is scheduled for a hearing in the South Greensburg case Friday.