Phil Heasley

The Butler Area School District board and administration are aware of charges filed against a school board member for an alleged road rage incident involving a gun, the district’s solicitor said Thursday, Jan. 25.

Phillip C. Heasley, 33, was charged last week with misdemeanor simple assault and summaries harassment and disorderly conduct in relation to an alleged road rage incident on Dec. 27 at the intersection of Mercer Road and Route 8 in Center Township.

Tom Breth, solicitor for the district, said Thursday the board is aware of the situation.

“The board and the administration are not in a position to comment further regarding the matter,” he wrote to the Eagle on Thursday.

On Thursday, Heasley offered a comment to the Eagle on the charges.

“It was a self defense situation,” he said.

Heasley, of Butler, was appointed to the school board in May in an effort to fill vacant seats left by William “Bill” Halle and Regenold Griffin after their resignations.

Police said two witnesses reported a white pickup truck was following their vehicle closely as they traveled on North Duffy Road on Dec. 27.

Police said the witnesses reported that when the vehicles approached a stop sign at the intersection with Mercer Road, the pickup truck driver pointed a pistol at them.

Heasley was identified by police as the driver of the truck. Documents indicate Heasley said he did not point a firearm at anyone, but was on the phone with a woman during the incident.

Documents showed the woman told police she was not on the phone with Heasley at the time of the alleged incident.

Police said Heasley indicated he had a long gun at his residence, but not a pistol. A pistol was also found at Heasley’s residence, according to documents.

Heasley’s preliminary hearing was scheduled Feb. 20 before District Judge Lewis Stoughton.