ACSO - News Release

PITTSBURGH, PA - Sheriff William P. Mullen announces the arrest of Paul Rodriguez Sirmons, 39 years old, from North Huntington. Sirmons was arrested last evening after sheriff’s deputies received a tip from someone who saw Sirmons’ picture on television, in regards to this crime being committed at the Allegheny County Courthouse in the early morning hours of February 2, 2010. At approximately 3:12 AM that morning, Sirmons spray painted graffiti on the wall at the Ross Street entrance of the courthouse, in what was a threat against a Judge. Since that time, sheriff’s deputies had reviewed hours of video surveillance from almost a dozen cameras in or around the courthouse. Through the course of this investigation, deputies discovered video of a person seen in this area during this time period that they wanted to question in regards to this crime. This video was released to the local news stations over the last two days. This evening sheriff’s deputies located Sirmons at his apartment in Westmoreland County. During the interview Sirmons confessed to committing this crime.

In October of 2007, Sirmons was arrested for taking photographs of a witness while testifying during the homicide trial of Leslie Mollett. Sirmons was charged with Defiant Trespass, two counts of Harassment and Disorderly Conduct. After spending eleven days in the Allegheny County Jail. Sirmons pled guilty to three summary violations and was credited for time served.

Sirmons told deputies that he was a defendant in front of Judge Manning in 1994 when he was arrested on assault charges. In 1995, he pled “nolo contender” and was placed on two years probation by Judge Jeffrey Manning. According to Sirmons, several months ago he saw Judge Manning in a store and approached the judge. Sirmons stated that he told the judge he was upset with how his case was handled years earlier and the judge ignored him. He told deputies that he spray painted words onto the building because he felt Judge Manning had disrespected him. Sirmons also stated to deputies that what he was trying to write was “ I hate Judge Manning”.

While deputies were interviewing Sirmons, a warrant was obtained in Allegheny County for his arrest. Once the warrant had been signed, he was arrested and escorted back to Allegheny County where he would be lodged in the county jail. He is being charged with Institutional Vandalism, Terroristic Threats and Criminal Mischief and will be arraigned sometime this morning.

Sheriff Mullen would like to thank both the media and the public for their assistance in solving this crime. Without both, solving this crime would have been a much more difficult task.