Mercer Co. deputies commended

MERCER, Pa. — Five Mercer County deputy sheriffs have been issued commendations by the department for their efforts in helping to apprehend a murder suspect in Hermitage on Aug. 23.

Benjamin Sharper, Chad Rowe, Leo Reardon, Dick Arthur and Mark Yassem were all cited for their actions that led to the arrest of Steven Brown.

At 11 p.m. that day, the department learned Brown might be staying at a hotel in the area. Brown had allegedly shot and killed a man in Warren, Ohio, and was considered armed and dangerous.

The deputies began searching hotels in the area to see if they could locate Brown’s vehicle. They eventually found it parked at the Starlite Motel on South Hermitage Road and contacted Hermitage and Pennsylvania State Police for assistance.

After passing command to Hermitage Police, the deputies continued to assist the other agencies with the identification and eventual capture of Brown.

“Myself, the department and the community appreciate the dedication of placing yourselves in harm’s way to apprehend this dangerous felon to protect the citizens of Mercer County,” said Gary Hartman, the Mercer County chief deputy sheriff.

In a letter submitted to Sheriff Bill Romine on Aug. 27, Warren Police Detective Justin Soroka expressed on behalf of the city police department its deepest gratitude for the deputies’ assistance during Brown’s apprehension.

“Thanks to the professionalism and expertise displayed by the deputies of your department, a violent suspect was apprehended before he could further flee the area,” Soroka said.