A Pennsylvania man finds himself facing serious accusations after reportedly trying to demolish his home following a heated argument with his wife. The dispute arose when she declared their marriage was over.
Eric Pierwsza, aged 48, was taken into custody on Tuesday. He is alleged to have operated an excavator against the back of his house while his wife and two daughters were still inside.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by CBS News, the confrontation began when Pierwsza came home intoxicated, sparking a quarrel with his spouse.
After his wife declared their relationship was finished, Pierwsza reportedly threatened, “If it’s over, I’ll tear the house down.”
Moments later, he allegedly took action, using a Kubota excavator to dismantle the rear of their residence while his family was inside.
Striking images reveal the aftermath, showing the Sarver home severely damaged, with significant portions collapsed from the machine’s assault.
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’
Eric 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. Pierswza 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.
