Homestead police station roof leak not caused by ghosts

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Some may believe the findings of the Greater Pittsburgh Paranormal Society, whose members announced two weeks ago that they found evidence of paranormal activity at the Homestead police station.

But police Chief Jeffrey DeSimone made it clear yesterday there was nothing paranormal about a roof leak that occurred at the building during a storm Sunday night.

The incident was initially reported as a roof collapse, a report that was picked up by local television stations, the chief said. That led to speculation that there might be something supernatural about it.

But the chief explained that a contractor is in the process of putting on a new roof and had used roofing paper to cover a section where the old roof was torn off. The paper blew off during the storm and water poured in, causing some ceiling tiles to fall inside.

Power and phone service to the building, which is owned by Allegheny County, were turned off Sunday night, and officers had to work from their cruisers. But the damage was repaired and utilities restored by 8:20 a.m. yesterday.

"There was no collapse, there were no ghosts involved. It's a water leak, that's it," Chief DeSimone said.