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Pittsburgh man in custody for Heinz Field break-in
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Wearing a Pirates cap and gray sweatpants, a Brighton Heights man Saturday tried to break into the Steelers locker room at Heinz Field using a hammer, according to Pittsburgh police.
Police charged John Winters, 28, with burglary and possessing instruments of crime.
According to a criminal complaint, Heinz Field security guard John Sharkady told police Mr. Winters broke a lock at Gate B to get inside the stadium.
He "wandered around the field area" before walking toward the locker room, according to the complaint.
With guards watching the security feed, Mr. Winters tried using a hammer to get inside the locker room, according to the complaint.
When two Pittsburgh police officers arrived with stadium security staff, they found marks on two doors as well as damage to a bolt holding the knob on the locker room door, according to the complaint.
Mr. Winter's mother, Kimberley, had not heard about the arrest until a reporter called her at the home she shares with her son. She said her son has been treated for depression.
Allegheny County court records show Mr. Winter pleaded guilty in late 2012 in separate simple assault, retail theft and receiving stolen property cases. Other charges of theft and defiant trespass were withdrawn in exchange for the guilty pleas, the records show.
He was sentenced to probation in those cases, the records show.
First Published January 6, 2013 12:00 am
