LITITZ, Pa. — Three Lancaster County suspects are facing charges after police say they broke into an abandoned bar in Warwick Township, set of fireworks inside the building and stole several items from inside.
Northern Lancaster County Regional Police investigated the incident, which occurred in July. At the conclusion of the investigation, the police department filed charges against:
- Andrew Nathan Allen, 18, of Marietta
- Thomas Frances Wainman III, 19, of Lititz
- Morgan Taylor Simmons, 21, of Lancaster
All three suspects are charged with burglary, criminal trespass, and two counts of criminal conspiracy, according to police.
In addition, Allen and Wainman are charged with reckless burning, arson and risking a catastrophe, charging documents state.
The investigation began on July 24, after police were alerted to a video posted to Snapchat that appeared to show the two male suspects inside the former LaPiazza Restaurant and Sports Bar, which was located at 800 Lititz Pike in Warwick Township prior to its closing in 2021. The business closed its door with all its contents inside, police said.
In the video, the two suspects are seen breaking into the building and setting off fireworks inside.
In another video posted to Snapchat on July 23, Wainman is seen in a bedroom, where there is a LaPiazza Restaurant and Sports Bar menu and a beer tap mounted to the wall, according to police.
After viewing the videos, investigators went to LaPiazza and found evidence of the break-in, along with scorch marks on the floor and spent fireworks. There were empty cans of alcohol inside a waste can in the former restaurant, police claim.
Reviews of the suspects' Snapchat account indicated a third Snapchat user was present during the July 23 incident. The third suspect, a woman, is seen on a video file with one of the other suspects as the trio entered the business.
Investigators traced the Snapchat accounts to Allen, Wainman, and Simmons, charging documents state.
In an interview with police in October, Simmons allegedly admitted to being inside the restaurant with the other suspects and that they had set off fireworks inside the building. She also admitted that the suspects broke a lock in order to gain entry.
Simmons said the other suspects took a bar sign and other items from inside.
On Oct. 28, police claim, the father of one of the suspects called authorities to report that his son was in possession of items he believed came from inside LaPiazza. Responding officers found the items, which the business's owners confirmed had been stolen from inside the building.
On Nov. 4, Simmons' father called police to report he'd found a stolen "Open" sign that had been taken from the restaurant.
