A South Side shopping trip turned tense on Sunday when, according to police, a Pittsburgh man grabbed a machete and chased a group of juveniles out of a neighborhood store along the East Carson Street corridor near Sarah Street. The teens flagged down an officer on the busy strip and pointed out the man, who was then detained while police sorted through what had happened.
Police say he grabbed a machete and chased teens
According to WPXI, investigators identified the suspect as 33-year-old Neal Sims of Pittsburgh. Court paperwork cited by the station states that Sims told officers a group of juveniles had been making employees at La Bodega uncomfortable.
WPXI reports that Sims said he walked out to his vehicle, retrieved a machete, and went back into the shop to drive the teens away. Police say he later approached officers without any weapon visible, and that after the juveniles left the scene, a summons was issued charging him with simple assault.
South Side corridor has seen other violent incidents
The East Carson Street business district has already been under the microscope, with city officials ramping up enforcement after a run of violent calls for service. The city's public-safety blotter has recorded serious incidents along the strip, including a recent homicide investigation detailed by the City of Pittsburgh.
Local reporting has also followed targeted entertainment-district patrols and weapons-related arrests along the South Side nightlife corridor, as authorities try to get a handle on recurring trouble.
What the charge means
Sims faces a simple assault charge under Pennsylvania law stemming from the April incident, and police chose to proceed by issuing a summons instead of taking him into custody on the spot. Simple assault is defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2701 and is generally treated as a second-degree misdemeanor, although the grading can shift depending on factors such as the age of the alleged victim. The full statutory language is available via Justia.
According to the initial report, one of the juveniles told officers they wanted to press charges, and a parent was contacted. The case is now moving ahead through the summons process and court paperwork. Police have not said whether any additional charges might follow, per WPXI.
