MILLVALE, Pa. — A man is behind bars after allegedly holding his nephew hostage and assaulting him inside a home in Millvale, leading to a SWAT situation Wednesday evening.
Police and EMS crews were called to the 600 block of Evergreen Avenue at 6:40 p.m.
Police said that a woman told police that her nephew sent her pictures showing bruises all over his body. She said that her nephew was inside a home with 34-year-old Gregory Ricchiuto, and that he threatened to shoot his nephew and kill his dog if he called anybody or if he saw anybody on security cameras, according to police paperwork.
Police told Channel 11 that Ricchiuto was assaulting his nephew over the course of a week.
The nephew was able to get out of the home when officers arrived on the scene, but they had to call out SWAT to get Ricchiuto out.
The victim had multiple injuries to his face, eyes and left side of his body and possible broken ribs, according to the criminal complaint.
Police said that Ricchiuto was on a meth bender, and was considered to be violent and dangerous due to paranoia.
Ricchiuto is facing charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, and false imprisonment. He is currently in the Allegheny County Jail.
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