Charges Reduced Against Man Accused Of Attempting To Kidnap Estranged Wife Downtown
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man accused of trying to kidnap his estranged wife in downtown Pittsburgh had the charges against him reduced today.
Michael Tremontin, 39, appeared in court for a preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon.
"It was an overwhelmingly emotional episode for my client; his wife had just filed for divorce two weeks earlier," said David Cercone, Tremontin's attorney.
The incident happened at the BNY Mellon Client Service Center on Ross Street in Pittsburgh on May 20.
Tremontin's wife, Heidi, said she was in the rear of the building smoking when Michael approached her. She claims he was grabbing her arm and asking her to come to his car to see their dogs. Heidi said she tried to get back into the building, but Michael picked her up and tried to carry her to his car.
At that point, Heidi began to scream for help and a few people entering a nearby "T" station noticed the situation.
Police say eventually Michael put Heidi down, and fled the scene.
"He'd gone down to talk to her, and I think he made some wrong decisions," said Cercone.
Afterwards, Heidi had her brother drive her to the Municipal Courts Building to file a protection from abuse order. While she was doing that, her step-father called police and said Michael was driving past the Olympia Street home of Heidi's parents, where she had been staying. Police were called and arrested him.
At his hearing, the kidnapping and resisting arrest charges were withdrawn on agreement. But Tremontin still faces charges of stalking, unlawful restraint and harassment.
Tremontin's wife was in court Tuesday, but she did not want to speak to the media.
Meanwhile, Tremontin will have a formal arraignment for the remaining charges on July 21.
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