A Pennsylvania man has been arrested after allegedly using an excavator to partially demolish his own home while his wife and two daughters were still inside after a heated marital dispute.
Divorce dispute turns destructive
A resident of Pennsylvania, Erik Pierwsza (48), is facing three counts of recklessly endangering another person, one count of disorderly conduct and one count of causing a catastrophe after the dramatic incident that unfolded on May 26.
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According to authorities, the confrontation began when Pierwsza's wife informed him that she wanted to file for a divorce. Police allege that he reacted angrily, declaring, "If it's over, I'll tear the house down," before carrying out the threat.
According to a USA Today report, within minutes, Pierwsza allegedly climbed into an excavator and began tearing into the family home. At the same time, his wife and two frightened daughters remained inside. Although the woman and children escaped without physical injuries, investigators said the damage was severe enough to affect the home's structural integrity.
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The Buffalo Township Police Department said the wife called 911 during the incident. Emergency dispatchers reportedly heard screaming and the sound of heavy machinery operating in the background as the situation unfolded.
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Investigators said Pierwsza eventually stopped the demolition, entered the house, collected a duffel bag and drove to another town. He was arrested later that same day.
The incident has left neighbours stunned. A resident who had previously gone hunting with Pierwsza described him as an avid outdoorsman and said he was shocked by the allegations. Another neighbour remarked, "Forty-two years I've been married, but I've never threatened to tear the house down."
Pierwsza is currently being held at Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail. Online court records do not indicate plea or attorney information. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on June 9.
