Richland Township Police Blotter: Supervisor Mike Zowniriw has been charged with disorderly conduct, and wife Amy alleged to be a scofflaw. Is anyone surprised???
After more than two dozen visits, the cops finally have the evidence to act. The Z's face criminal hearings. And their neighbors paint a chilling picture of life on Station Avenue...
"This dog (Z's pet, Paco) is really what started the neighbor problems", says Ruthellen Bonomo, whose parents were missionaries in Kenya. "The day my dog Pepper died, Paco got into my house, ran upstairs and attacked her just two hours before I took her to be put to sleep. Paco has bitten my oldest son, Caleb, countless times, and the Zowniriws always laughed when they heard Caleb getting bit, they thought it was funny. Mike commented numerous times how he never has to clean his yard up from dog feces because Paco always goes in ours. Practically anyone that came to my front door would get chased and/or bitten."
For years there have been complaints about Paco's biting. There are even large signs in the Zowniriw's yard warning about him. Kelly Collins is another neighbor:
"As ridiculous as it sounds, the Z's use that tiny but mean dog as a weapon. If I'm outside on my front porch or coming from my car they let the dog out and tell him to "go get me". Amy in particular is constantly using that dog as a scare tactic and letting him on other people's property. He is never on a leash. Postal employees, my cleaning lady and any visitor to my house or the Bonomo's are constantly assaulted."
On Sunday, July 9, Paco again came onto the Bonomo's yard, and attacked their dog, Roni. Both Bonomo sons, Caleb and Josh, witnessed Paco's attack, and had to kick him away. Ruthellen continued: "Z told the papers that 'Caleb taunted me and threatened to kill my dog'. First of all there was no communication between Z and Caleb until after their dog got kicked. What took place first was Z's dog was half way into my backyard and attacked my dog. Z can't even get his story straight, because there was no conversation until after the dog had trespassed and had been kicked twice and even then the dog came back for more."
According to Richland police, Mike acknowledged picking up a rock and throwing it at Caleb. Fortunately, he missed. By inches, says Ruthellen. On purpose, says Mike. He told police that he had been a "star pitcher in Philadelphia", and "If I wanted to hit him, I would have hit him". But a source who grew up with Mike says, "Mike wasn't a star anything. He didn't play high school sports. He was never on any sports team".
Mike Zowniriw was charged with disorderly conduct. Amy was charged with having an unlicensed and unvaccinated dog, and failing to keep the dog confined. So what was the official Zowniriw position? Mike says that his neighbors are lying, blowing the matter out of proportion, and only want to discredit him. Amy claims that the neighbors are jealous because Mike is a supervisor.
In April, 2005, six families came to a township meeting to complain that the Z's were harassing and threatening them. Mike retaliated by shutting off the water to the elderly, disabled couple, the Cressmans, who live in the other half of the Victorian twin. He built a wall across the basement, so they couldn't get to their own well. They had to hire an attorney, and spent over $11,000. Clair Cressman suffered two strokes. Mike issued a public statement saying that he was "reinvigorated" by the experience!
Richlandtown councilman John Norvaisas, who was one of Z's most ardent supporters, was disgusted: " I just want you to know that I have nothing to do with Mike and Amy Z anymore. I didn't like that (stuff) they pulled on the Cressmans."
Mike intends to fight the charges, which carry a possible fine and up to 90 days in jail. This should make for an interesting hearing, since he already admitted throwing the rock. Perhaps it will be the "former-star-pitcher-I-missed-him-on-purpose" defense.
But in the meantime, Ruthellen Bonomo lamented, "What more can we do? I have spent ten grand on a vinyl fence. Kelly is right, they use that dog as a weapon. They now take the dog up to their balcony and tell the dog to 'go get 'em' and he stands up there growling and barking. Every time they know we are outside they let the dog out and that is exactly what happened Sunday evening. And now they are the poor victims again."
Collins: "My mother had to send my stepfather to live with his daughter because she is afraid of the Z's. Our house is up for sale solely because of the Z's harassment. Our fear of Mike and Amy is based on over five years of daily observation and interactions with them. Your home is supposed to be your sanctuary and safe place. The Z's have made it impossible to feel this way."
State Representative Paul Clymer is also upset. "The alleged harassment by Richland Township Supervisor Mike Zowniriw and his wife Amy, of their neighbors is shameful, to say the least. This type of harassment and bullying is contrary to the principles of decency, compassion, civility and kindness."
Mike's actions in office have repeatedly been those of a bully: making threatening calls to volunteers at their homes; demanding the resignation of a township board chairman who refused to accept Amy, and Z's campaign manager, as members; writing a secret letter to a judge in support of his friends, against his own township; and wrongly accusing the entire Richland staff and supervisors of illegally passing an ordinance.
It shouldn't happen to a dog.