A Pennsylvania man is facing a slew of charges after he allegedly tried to demolish his own house with an excavator while his family was still inside.
Erik Pierwsza, 48, has been charged with three counts of recklessly endangering another person, one count of disorderly conduct, and one count of causing a catastrophe, according to USA TODAY.
Pierwsza allegedly used an excavator to smash portions of his home in Buffalo Township while his wife and two daughters were inside, according to the Buffalo Township Police Department.
Investigators were concerned about the structural integrity of the home due to the extent of the damage caused by the excavator, CBS News reports.
A police report said that Pierwsza and his wife were arguing about the potential end of their marriage before the incident.
The wife told police that her husband threatened to rip the house down if she left him, according to local media. “If it’s over, I’ll tear the house down,” he allegedly said.
Moments after the confrontation with his wife, he allegedly got into the construction vehicle and used its claw to tear away chunks of his house while his wife and children hid inside, according to reports.
His wife called 911, and operators said during the call that they could hear screaming and the sounds of machinery in the background.
Investigators said that Pierwsza eventually stopped his alleged attack on the house, ran inside, grabbed a duffle bag, and left for a different town. He was arrested the same day.
The incident left the neighborhood in a state of disbelief.
One neighbor, who spoke to KDKA-TV, said he’d hunted with Pierwsza in the past, and described the man as an avid outdoorsman. He reportedly said he was shocked when he learned of the charges Pierwsza is facing.
“Forty-two years I’ve been married, but I’ve never threatened to tear the house down,” another neighbor said.
Pierwsza is currently being held at Butler County Prison on $10,000 bond, according to court documents, and is scheduled to appear in court June 9.