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Pittsburgh-area man charged after threatening to shoot utility worker shutting off water, authorities say

By Erika Stanish

/ CBS Pittsburgh

A North Huntington Township man accused of threatening to shoot a utility worker who was called to his home to shut off water service has been charged. 

Mykola Prut faces charges, including aggravated assault and theft by unlawful taking, simple assault and theft of services, in connection with the incident on Wednesday, when he allegedly pulled a gun on a Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County employee. 

According to police, a worker with the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County showed up at Prut's home in Ardara on Water Street to shut off service. 

While the worker was there, Prut allegedly told police that he was in the bathroom getting ready to brush his teeth. Prut told police that when he turned on the water, it had an "abnormal flow." That's when Prut said he looked out the window and saw a man near his car, where his water valve is located.

According to police paperwork, Prut grabbed his gun and ran outside, allegedly threatening the worker "not to run" or "he would shoot him."

Police said the worker took off from the home. Prut said he threw a tool into his van before running behind a neighbor's home.

According to police paperwork, Prut chased the man across the street before turning back to take the tool from the van and the keys to the vehicle. Prut allegedly told police he did it "so no one would steal the vehicle."

Prut then allegedly admitted to police that he turned the water back on using the tool from the worker's van. 

Utility worker recounts being threatened 

Meanwhile, the worker involved in the incident talked to KDKA-TV off camera on Thursday, saying he feared for his life. The worker said he could hear Prut's voice behind him as he was running to safety.

The man said he went into the woods and swam across a creek.

"I was bobbing for air," the worker told KDKA, adding that his clothes were weighing him down in the water.

After he got to the other side of the creek, the worker told KDKA-TV that he removed his clothes and began climbing up a steep hillside. According to police paperwork, the worker was found near the Old Brush Creek Cemetery, nearly 1 mile away from Prut's home. He was found hiding in a wooded area.

The worker told KDKA that he asked two people for help. The first time was while he was still wearing his company clothes, and the second time was when he was without clothes.

Police said they tracked him by pinging his phone. 

During an interview with police after the incident, Prut alleged that he thought the worker was trying to break into his vehicle. 

According to police paperwork, officers said, "It is evident that the defendant (Prut) was aware that (the worker) was an employee of the MAWC and was performing a water shutoff, and still chose to leave his residence, readying his firearm, pointing it at the worker and threatening imminent serious bodily injury by saying that he would shoot him if he ran. As well as continuing to restore water service to his residence after the initial altercation." 

Prut was in court Thursday morning for an arraignment.

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