Excavator Home Damage
Man Charged After Using Excavator to Damage Pennsylvania Home with Family Inside
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A Pennsylvania man threatened to destroy his home during a divorce dispute — then followed through. Erik Pierwsza, 48, allegedly climbed into a Kubota excavator on the morning of May 26 and tore into the family's house on Martin Road in Buffalo Township while his wife and two daughters were still inside, according to Butler Eagle. His wife had just told him their marriage was over. His response: "If it's over, I'll tear the house down."
Pierwsza now faces felony charges including risking catastrophe, reckless endangerment, and disorderly conduct, according to TribLIVE. He turned himself in to police at 1:00 PM the same day. A formal arraignment is scheduled for July 28 at Butler County Courthouse.
Inside the Attack: Excavator, 911 Call, and a Gym Bag
Pierwsza had spent the night before drinking heavily, according to TribLIVE. He returned home the next morning, and the couple argued. After his wife said she wanted a divorce, Pierwsza mounted the Kubota excavator on the property and began tearing into the structure. His wife called 911. Dispatchers heard screaming and the sounds of heavy machinery in the background, according to CBS News.
After the attack, Pierwsza went inside the damaged home, packed a gym bag, and fled toward Fawn Township, according to TribLIVE. Police reached him by phone, and he turned himself in at 1:00 PM. He was held at Butler County Prison after failing to post a $10,000 bond.
Top Charge Reduced, But Three Felony Counts Remain
Prosecutors originally charged Pierwsza with "causing catastrophe" — a first or second-degree felony under Pennsylvania law. At a June 9 preliminary hearing before District Judge Jack D. Ripper, that charge was reduced to "risking catastrophe," a third-degree felony, according to TribLIVE. The reduction reflects the argument that the house did not fully collapse, though the risk of harm was serious.
Pierwsza faces three separate counts of recklessly endangering another person — one for each family member inside the home, according to Butler Eagle. A third-degree felony in Pennsylvania carries a maximum of 7 years in prison and a $15,000 fine. All charges were held for court after Pierwsza waived his preliminary hearing.
Defense Says House Still Stands; Police Called It a Total Loss
Defense attorney Michael Pawk told TribLIVE that the home remains habitable and that the damage was partial, not total. He said his client wants to "resolve this in the courts" and eventually "reunite with his kids." That view clashes sharply with the initial police assessment, which suggested the structure may need full demolition.
The family's home in Buffalo Township is estimated to be worth between $250,000 and $350,000, based on comparable properties in the area. Pierwsza's wife has since been granted a temporary Protection from Abuse order, according to Butler Eagle. A custody battle is expected to follow the criminal proceedings.
Neighbors Stunned as Community Grapples With Rare Case
Buffalo Township Police Chief Timothy Derringer called the event a "shocker" and an "unfortunate incident for all involved," according to WPXI. He noted how rare it is for heavy industrial equipment to be used as a weapon in a domestic dispute. The presence of the family inside the home during the attack significantly raised the severity of the police response.
Neighbors struggled to make sense of the incident. One long-time resident told CBS News: "Forty-two years I've been married, but I've never threatened to tear the house down." Pierwsza had been known locally as an avid outdoorsman and hunter, according to TribLIVE. The case is now being watched as a rare example of "risking catastrophe" charges applied in a domestic setting.
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