Police said the man’s wife and two daughters were inside the Butler County house when the demolition began.
BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, PA — A Butler County man is facing criminal charges after police said he used an excavator to tear into his family’s home Tuesday while his wife and two daughters were still inside.
The case began as a domestic dispute at a home on Martin Road and quickly turned into a felony investigation. Police said 48-year-old Erik Pierwsza was upset after his wife said their marriage was over. He is accused of damaging the rear of the home with a Kubota excavator before leaving the property.
Police said Pierwsza had returned home after drinking through the night and began arguing with his wife Tuesday morning. According to the criminal complaint, she told officers that she wanted a divorce. Investigators said Pierwsza then threatened to destroy the house, telling her, “If it’s over, I’ll tear the house down.” Moments later, police said, he climbed into the excavator and started ripping into the home. Dispatchers taking the 911 call could hear yelling and the sound of the machine in the background.
The woman and the couple’s two daughters were still inside the house when the machine struck the structure, police said. They were able to get out safely. No injuries were reported in the initial accounts. The damage was concentrated at the rear of the home, but investigators said it was serious enough to raise concerns about the building’s structural integrity. Police said the home sustained significant damage, though the full repair cost was not immediately known.
After the damage stopped, investigators said Pierwsza went back inside the house, grabbed a gym bag and left the area. Police said he headed toward Fawn Township before he was taken into custody. The home is in Buffalo Township, a Butler County community northeast of Pittsburgh near Sarver. Neighbors told local reporters they were stunned by the scene. One nearby resident said, “I think he’s crazy. That’s why I don’t drink.” Another man said he had been married for 42 years and had never threatened to tear down a house.
Pierwsza is charged with causing a catastrophe, three counts of recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct, according to court records cited by police. He was taken to Butler County Prison after he was unable to post bail. His bail was set at $10,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 9 before Judge Jack Ripper. Court records also show his wife planned to seek a protection-from-abuse order after the incident.
The case remains in its early court stage, and the allegations have not been tested at a preliminary hearing. Police have not said whether more charges could be filed after inspectors review the house. The next scheduled step is Pierwsza’s June 9 hearing, where prosecutors are expected to present evidence on whether the case should move forward.
Author note: Last updated May 28, 2026.