Authorities tight-lipped on Erie raids as at least seven nabbed on robbery, assault counts
Tim Hahn, Erie Times-News
Thu, March 27, 2025 at 10:22 AM EDT
A law enforcement operation involving federal and local authorities descended on Erie Thursday morning and led to the arrest of at least seven people accused in an alleged robbery and assault that occurred at a club in the city in January.
Seven people had been arraigned and jailed as of mid-afternoon Thursday in what authorities said was an operation involving the Erie Bureau of Police and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Erie Police Chief Dan Spizarny said Thursday morning the action was part of a criminal investigation between his department and the ATF in which arrest warrants were served. Those warrants were sealed, said Spizarny, who declined further comment.
Erie County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeremy Lightner said Thursday morning that the DA’s Office participated in the investigation and authorized charges on a number of people related to an investigation into an aggravated assault. Those cases are currently under seal, Lightner said.
Authorities would not comment beyond that.
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh said in an email to the Erie Times-News Thursday morning that his office declines comment at this time.
A spokesman for the ATF in Philadelphia said in an email to the Times-News that the agency does not comment on or discuss the existence of any ongoing investigations.
Charges filed in alleged robbery, assault
Among the details unknown as of Thursday is what led Erie police to charge at least seven people in connection with some sort of incident that occurred Jan. 13 at the Saga Club in the city, according to information in criminal complaints filed against the seven who had been apprehended and arraigned as of mid-afternoon Thursday. The complaints contained no details on what might have occurred that day, and affidavits of probable cause were not included with the complaints.
Arraigned and jailed Thursday in connection to the incident, according to court records, were James D. McClelland, 61; Stephen Simmons, 70; Joshua R. Burton, 34; Blake Mariani, 29; Joseph L. Henry, 31; Vito Randazzo, 48; and Chandler D. Kopystecki, 20.
Erie 2nd Ward District Judge Ed Wilson arraigned each beginning at noon Thursday on charges including felony counts of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and set their bonds at $100,000, according to court records.
The case remains under investigation with others possibly facing charges, Spizarny said Thursday afternoon.
The seven were picked up as Erie police and agents with the ATF set out early Thursday morning to round up the suspects. Locations the group are believed to have visited included the Iron Wings Motorcycle Club on East Avenue, where witnesses said a large number of police were present Thursday morning.
A door to the clubhouse was removed from the building and was laying on the sidewalk outside of it mid-morning Thursday. Authorities would not comment on whether they had been to the Iron Wings club Thursday morning or their reason for being there.
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNhahn.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: At least seven face charges as Erie police, ATF serve arrest warrants
Comments