Police: Man Pulls Gun, Robs Pizza Delivery Drivers For Taking Too Long
PITTSBURGH (KDKA)- A South Side Slopes man is facing charges, accused of robbing two pizza delivery drivers.
Police say Steven and Nicole Tyukodi delivered pizza from the Pizza Hut on East Carson Street to 33-year-old Frank Veltri's home on Windom Hill Place around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to court papers, there were 49 minutes between the time the suspect ordered the pizza until the time it was delivered to his home. When the delivery driver arrived, Veltri reportedly told the driver that was too long and he should get his order - pizza, wings and breadsticks - for free.
"I talked to corporate, this pizza is free," said Veltri, according to the criminal complaint. It went on to say Veltri snatched the order out of her hands and walked into his house.
"Upon getting at the residence to drop off the delivery, the person who placed the order became upset that the delivery had taken a long time," said Emily Schaffer, assistant public information officer with Pittsburgh Public Safety.
Veltri then walked back outside and continued to scream at the delivery driver. Nicole Tyukodi told police she tried to calm Veltri down and she told Veltri she would call her manager. The driver gave Veltri the phone and he spoke with the manager, who asked him to give the pizza back.
Tyukodi was upset and went back to the car and told her husband what had happened. At that point, Steven Tyukodi got out of the vehicle and asked Veltri to give the pizza back. According to the complaint, Veltri turned around and pointed to a sign that said "owner of this property is armed." Veltri then told Steven to "go ahead, call the cops and get the [expletive] off my property."
Once again, Steven asked for Veltri to give the pizza back. At that point, police say Veltri walked to his vehicle, reached into the passenger side and pulled out a gun. He pointed the gun at Steven and said he was not paying for the pizza.
"After going back and forth asking the actor to give the pizza back or pay for it, he went into his vehicle and retrieved a firearm, told the victims to leave, and at that point, they got in their vehicle and left," added Schaffer.
Police were called a short time later and they interviewed Veltri, who admitted that he had three guns inside the house. Police asked him to get the guns. Once one of them matched the description of the gun from the pizza delivery drivers, police placed Veltri under arrest.
He has been charged with robbery, simple assault and theft by unlawful taking. He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail.
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