Police said family members were inside during the incident.
BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Butler County man was jailed after police said he tried to tear down part of his family’s home with an excavator during an argument at a Martin Road property.
The charges against 48-year-old Erik A. Pierwsza center on what police said happened after his wife told him their marriage was over. The incident drew a 911 response and left the home with major damage, according to police accounts and court records.
Police said Pierwsza’s wife called 911 from the home Tuesday as the argument escalated. Dispatchers heard yelling and the sound of heavy equipment in the background, police said. The woman told officers Pierwsza had come home after a night of drinking before the dispute began.
According to the complaint, Pierwsza threatened to tear the house down after his wife said the marriage was ending. Police said he then got into a Kubota excavator and began damaging the rear of the home. His wife and two daughters were still inside when the machine struck the house, police said.
Investigators said the damage was significant and may have compromised the structure. Police said Pierwsza left before officers arrived, taking a gym bag and heading toward nearby Fawn Township. The available records do not say what repairs the home may need or how long the family could be displaced.
The case includes one felony count of causing a catastrophe, three counts of recklessly endangering another person and one disorderly conduct charge. Court records show Pierwsza’s wife also received a temporary protection from abuse order on the day police said the excavator was used on the home.
Pierwsza remained in Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for June 9 before District Judge Jack Ripper, where prosecutors must show enough evidence for the case to proceed.
The case remains active in Butler County court. The next scheduled milestone is the June 9 hearing.
Author note: Last updated May 28, 2026.