Pa. man arrested living in car with runaway teen
Garrett deputies file sex charges; girl returns to N.Y.
From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — A 28-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested early Wednesday in Garrett County where he had reportedly spent the last three days living out of his car with a 14-year-old runaway girl from New York’s Bronx borough.
A deputy on patrol observed a suspicious vehicle on a dirt road off Maryland Highway near the intersection with Leon White Road at Oakland at about 4 a.m., according to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies then found Andrew Jason Pettitt of Arnot, Pa., and a 14-year-old girl who had reportedly run away from home the night of Sept. 11 with the assistance of Pettitt.
Pennsylvania and New York authorities had been searching for Pettitt and the runaway youth, who was listed as a missing person with the New York City Police Department.
Deputies arrested Pettitt on two counts each of third-degree sex offense, second-degree assault, perverted practice and contributing to certain conditions of a child in addition to a single charge of kidnapping.
Pettitt was jailed in the Garrett County Detention Center in lieu of $305,000 bond following bail review in district court.
Pettitt and the minor were interviewed by detectives, who learned the pair had been in Garrett County for the past three days living in Pettitt’s vehicle. During that time, Pettitt allegedly engaged in an inappropriate consensual sexual relationship with the minor, police said.
Further investigation revealed Pettitt met the victim in January through online gaming and then started a relationship with her.
Pettitt subsequently traveled to New York where he allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with the girl.
A week ago, they left New York for return to Pettitt’s residence in Tioga County. After one day there, they traveled to Garrett County. Police found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Pettitt’s Subaru Legacy. The vehicle has been impounded.
Late Wednesday morning, police said the youth had been released to the custody of her parents. Apparently she will not be charged in the case.
Additional charges are pending against Pettitt in Pennsylvania and New York.