Teens assault man by posing as girl to label him a pedophile

In October 2023, two 18-year-olds from Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, were involved in an alarming incident that aimed to falsely label a man as a pedophile. Cooper Sepkovic and David Whipkey orchestrated a plan alongside a juvenile to harass and assault the victim. They created a fake social media profile posing as a girl with the clear intent to sexually engage with him, meet him in person, and ultimately attack him. Although the victim's age was not disclosed, police reports indicate that the confrontation was recorded on Snapchat, showcasing the group’s aggressive intentions and coercive tactics directed at the victim. During the encounter, the victim attempted to escape by biking home, fearing for his safety from Sepkovic, Whipkey, and their associates who pursued him in their vehicles. It was reported that they swerved dangerously close to him in an effort to intimidate and provoke him into a confrontation. In addition to physical aggression, the police indicated that prior messaging had taken place in group chats leading up to this planned act of bullying. Sepkovic later admitted to conceiving the idea of harassing the victim, while Whipkey acknowledged his participation in the planning stages, though he did not directly attend the assault. As a result of these actions, both young men now face a host of charges including recklessly endangering another person, harassment, and disorderly conduct, with Sepkovic also charged with stalking. Preliminary hearings for both individuals have been arranged for March 27, underscoring the seriousness of the events that transpired and the legal repercussions they now face. In a separate but equally troubling incident, a 62-year-old man named Frank Bowers from Fayette County was accused of making false emergency calls to police. Between December 31, 2023, and January 12, 2024, Bowers made a staggering 143 calls to authorities, falsely reporting emergencies such as fires and gunshot wounds. This led to critical concern among local emergency services, highlighting the unnecessary drain on resources and the potential danger it posed to genuine emergencies. The volunteer fire department even reported occasions where Bowers sought social engagement from responders by inviting them to consume alcohol with him. This pattern of behavior made him a candidate for a mental health evaluation as well as being placed on a do-not-transport list for emergency services due to the non-urgent nature of his calls.