He took what he wanted - and the roof fell in

UNIONTOWN, Pa. - A Fayette County man is charged with stealing a steel beam for scrap, resulting in a garage-roof collapse.

Michael Joseph Volek II, 28, said the owner of the former commercial garage had told him he could remove whatever scrap he wanted from the site. Volek said the building was falling in so he didn't figure it would matter that he took the beam holding up the roof, too.

When it collapsed in April, a neighbor called to report the damage and state police began investigating.

Volek was arraigned Monday on charges of theft and criminal mischief. Police say the roof collapse caused $10,000 in damage.

- AP