A man in Pennsylvania is accused of attempting to tear his house down after a drunken fight with his wife who yelled at him that their marriage was ‘done.’
Erik Pierwsza, 48, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly using an excavator to tear the back of his house down while his wife and two daughters were still inside.
Pierwsza’s wife told police that her husband had arrived home after a night of drinking when an argument broke out between them, according to the criminal complaint obtained by CBS News.
After she told Pierwsza that their marriage was ‘done,’ Pierwsza allegedly said: ‘If it’s over, I’ll tear the house down.’
Just moments later, he allegedly used a Kubota excavator to begin tearing down the rear of their home while his family were still inside.
Dramatic images show the home in Sarver had completely caved in after the machine tore at the sides.
According to the complaint, dispatchers heard yelling and the sound of heavy machinery during Pierwsza’s wife’s phone call.
Both Pierwsza’s wife and their daughters were able to escape the home before they were injured, police said.
After she told Pierwsza that their marriage was ‘done,’ Pierwsza allegedly said: ‘If it’s over, I’ll tear the house down’
Erik Pierwsza, 48, was arrested on Tuesday after using an excavator to tear the back of his house down while his wife and two daughters were sill inside
Buffalo Township Police Chief Timothy Derringer of the Buffalo Township Police Department told WPXI: ‘You never know what people are thinking today.
‘It is an unfortunate incident, I will say for all involved and hopefully it is an isolated incident and there are no other incidents in the future.’
Investigators said that Pierwsza went back inside after damaging the house and grabbed a gym bag before he took off toward Fawn Township, CBS News reported.
Before responding officers arrived on the scene, Pierwsza had allegedly fled in a vehicle before police reached him by phone.
He turned himself in to police later that day, WXPI reported.
‘I’d like to know what she said to him because I’ll make sure I don’t say it,’ a neighbor told CBS News. ‘Forty-two years I’ve been married, but I’ve never threatened to tear the house down.’
According to police, his wife planned to file a protection-from-abuse order, the outlet reported.
‘I can’t say this has happened in the past, it hasn’t,’ Derringer said. ‘But domestic violence is a real issue. Whether it’s here in this community and in every community.’
Before responding officers arrived on the scene, Pierwsza had allegedly fled in a vehicle before police reached him by phone. He turned himself in to police later that day
Pierwsza is now facing several charges, including causing a catastrophe, reckless endangerment, and disorderly conduct. Pierwsza was released on bail
A neighbor, who told KDKA-TV that he knows Pierwsza and has hunted with him, said he was shocked by the incident and described Pierwsza is an outdoorsman.
Pierwsza is now facing several charges, including causing a catastrophe, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. He was released on bail, WXPI reported.
His preliminary hearing is set for June 9.
The Daily Mail reached out to the Buffalo Township Police Department.
