Police seek to ID man after reported indecent exposure incident at Pittsburgh gas station
FOR A LOT OF US, SPRING CLEANING CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR ANCHOR ELENA LAQUATRA BREAKS DOWN SOME SIMPLE TASKS YOU CAN DO TO AVOID BIG PROBLEMS LATER. THE DAYS ARE OFFICIALLY LONGER NOW. WHETHER THEY’RE WARMER IS ANOTHER THING, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO START SPRING CLEANING YOUR HOME. THE EXPERTS AT CONSUMER REPORTS SAY THERE ARE A LOT OF CHORES YOU CAN TACKLE RIGHT NOW, AND IT STARTS WITH AIRING OUT YOUR HOME. AIRING OUT THE HOUSE ISN’T A NEW IDEA IN GERMANY. IT’S RECENTLY GOTTEN SOME MEDIA ATTENTION, HOWEVER, AND IT’S NOW BEEN DUBBED HOUSE BURPING. WELL, THAT DOESN’T QUITE HAVE THE SAME RING TO IT. THE CONCEPT IS THE SAME, SAYS CONSUMER REPORTS COURTNEY LINDWALL. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF CONTAMINANTS THAT ORIGINATE FROM INSIDE YOUR HOUSE, FROM COOKING, PET DANDER, DUST, ALL THE CLEANING PRODUCTS THAT WE USE. AND SO ALL OF THAT ADDS UP. OPENING THE WINDOWS CAN BE REALLY GREAT FOR IMPROVING YOUR HOME’S AIR QUALITY. NOW IS A GREAT TIME FOR SOME AIR PURIFIER MAINTENANCE. VACUUM ANY PRE AND POST FILTERS WITH THE BRUSH ATTACHMENT. AND REMEMBER TO REPLACE THE FILTERS REGULARLY ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS. NEXT, LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WASHING MACHINE. IF YOU NOTICE ANY FUNKY ODORS, RUN THE TUB CLEAN, CYCLE OR RUN AN EMPTY LOAD ON THE HOTTEST SETTING WITH ONE CUP OF BLEACH. IF YOU HAVE A FRONT LOADER WASHING MACHINE, MAKE SURE YOU’RE CLEANING THE DRAIN PUMP FILTER AS WELL. THE DRAIN PUMP FILTER CATCHES ALL THE LINT AND HAIR AND OTHER SMALL OBJECTS AS WATER DRAINS FROM THE DRUM. OVER TIME, IT CAN BECOME CLOGGED AND KIND OF GROSS. IT’S NOT HARD TO DO ONCE YOU KNOW HOW, BUT YOU’LL WANT TO CHECK YOUR WASHER’S MANUAL. OKAY, MOVING OVER TO THE DRYER NOW FOR SOME IMPORTANT SAFETY MAINTENANCE. CLEANING THE DRYER VENT. EVEN IF YOU’RE DILIGENT ABOUT EVERY LOAD, IT IS CRITICAL TO CLEAN THE HOSE AND DUCT LEADING ALL THE WAY TO THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME. SMALL FIBERS WILL GET THROUGH THE TRAP AND INTO YOUR DRYER VENT, SO IT CAN CAUSE BUILDUP AND LEAD TO A SERIOUS FIRE INSIDE THE VENT. SO IF YOU CAN’T ACCESS IT, YOU’LL NEED TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL TO CLEAN IT. ONCE YOUR WASHER AND DRYER ARE CLEANED, IT’S A GREAT TIME TO DEEP CLEAN YOUR PILLOWS. TRY TO DO SO AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR TO REMOVE ALL THE BUILT UP SWEAT, HAIR, AND DEAD SKIN CELLS. THE GOOD NEWS MOST PILLOWS CAN BE MACHINE WASHED AND DRIED. SO PLENTY MORE AHEAD. NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO KICK OFF YOUR SATURDAY. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR CONTINUES RIGHT NOW. A LOCAL MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR IS ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A STUDENT. COMING UP, WHAT WE’RE LEARNING ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION. THE PUSH FOR PEACE. I’M JACKIE WITH THE WHITE HOUSE TRACKING THE HIGH STAKES NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN AIMED AT ENDING THE WAR. WE’RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HAZELWOOD GET ITS DUE. A NEW YOUTH SPORTS COMPLEX OPENING SOON IN HAZELWOOD. COMING UP, THE ORGANIZATION BEHIND THIS PROJECT, NEARLY THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING. PLUS THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ARE PLAYOFF BOUND AND READY TO FINISH THE SEASON STRONG, HOSTING THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS TODAY. WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE GAME RIGHT HERE ON WTAE CHANNEL FOUR. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR THIS MORNING STARTS NOW. GOOD MORNING. IT’S 9:00 ON THE NOSE. I’M CARLOS FLORES AND YOU KNOW, METEOROLOGIST JILL SZWED IS ALSO HERE WITH OUR CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE FORECAST. WE’VE BEEN GETTING SPOILED THIS WELL, I THINK RIGHTFULLY SO, THOUGH. WE’RE ALRIGHT. WE’RE EXPECTING A LOT OF SUNSHINE AS WE GO THROUGH THE WEEKEND. OF COURSE, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A HICCUP LAST NIGHT WITH SOME SHOWERS, BUT THEY ARE LONG GONE. THINGS ARE GOING TO STAY DRY AND TEMPERATURES ARE WARMING UP. SO REALLY THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS FOR US AS WE CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. TEMPERATURES THOUGH, WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A VACCINE, AT LEAST FOR THE TEMPORARY TIME FRAME HERE. IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE WATCHING THOSE CLOUDS ROLL A LITTLE BIT THICKER STILL SOUTH AND EAST OF PITTSBURGH. BUT AGAIN, GIVE IT ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO. WE SHOULD SEE PLENTY OF SUNSHINE ALL ACROSS THE AREA. CERTAINLY THAT TREND RIGHT NOW SHOWING UP OVER DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH, TEMPERATURES ARE STILL IN THE 40S BY THE TIME WE HIT NOON WILL BE IN THE LOWER 50S ON OUR WAY TO ABOUT 60 OR SO THIS AFTERNOON. A LITTLE BIT OF A STEP BACK, THANKS TO A BIT OF A BREEZE COMING IN OUT OF THE NORTHWEST A LITTLE LATER ON TODAY. HERE’S YOUR FOUR DAY FORECAST 61 THIS AFTERNOON. THEN WE SCOOT CLOSER TO 80. BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON IT WILL COME WITH A FEW MORE CLOUDS, BUT NO RAIN TO SPEAK OF ALL WEEKEND LONG. THAT CHANGES AS WE KICK OFF THE BRAND NEW WORK AND SCHOOL WEEK. WE’LL SEE SOME SHOWERS CRUISING AROUND MIDDAY ON MONDAY. A LITTLE BIT LESS COVERAGE BY TUESDAY AS THE 80S RETURN. WE’VE GOT MORE 80S TO TALK ABOUT INTO NEXT WEEK. I’LL BREAK IT ALL DOWN. YOUR FOUR DAY PLUS FOUR MORE MINUTES AWAY. THANK YOU. JOE. ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AFTER A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL CLAIMED SHE WAS ABUSED BY HER MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR, 22 YEAR OLD STEVE BUDINSKY FACES A NUMBER OF FELONY CHARGES RELATED TO SEX CRIMES AGAINST A MINOR, ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT. THE VICTIM’S MOTHER FOUND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT TEXT MESSAGES WITH BUDINSKY ON THE VICTIM’S CELL PHONE IN MARCH, THE COMPLAINT STATES. BERNATSKY HAD BEEN THE VICTIM’S TAEKWONDO INSTRUCTOR AT A STUDIO IN THE WEST HILLS REGION OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY SINCE 2024. SHE TOLD OFFICIALS HE BECAME PHYSICALLY AFFECTIONATE TOWARD HER OVER THIS PAST SUMMER DURING PRIVATE LESSONS AT THE START OF THIS YEAR, SHE SAID, HE BEGAN SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HER. THE NAME OF THE STUDIO WHERE THIS HAPPENED IS NOT INCLUDED IN DOCUMENTS ONLINE COURT RECORDS SHOW. THE CHARGES, HOWEVER, WERE ORIGINATED FROM HEIDELBERG. STILL CITY, A T A MARTIAL ARTS, IS LOCATED IN HEIDELBERG. AN EMAIL FROM THE STUDIO SENT TO PARENTS ON MARCH 10TH READS, QUOTE, DUE TO SOME PRIVATE AND UNFORTUNATE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED RECENTLY, MR. BRODINSKI IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED WITH US. END QUOTE. WE DID REACH OUT TO THE STUDIO AND WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK. MEANWHILE, BRODINSKI IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY JAIL, WHERE HE’S AWAITING AN ARRAIGNMENT ON CHARGES INCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULT AND INDECENT ASSAULT. RIGHT NOW, A U.S. DELEGATION LED BY VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE IS IN PAKISTAN HOLDING PEACE TALKS WITH IRAN OFFICIALS. THIS MARKS THE FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES SINCE THE WAR BEGAN MORE THAN A MONTH AGO. THIS WILL TEST WHETHER THE SIDES CAN SHORE UP A FRAGILE CEASEFIRE AND PAVE THE WAY FOR PEACE. HERE’S THE VICE PRESIDENT BEFORE HIS FLIGHT TO PAKISTAN. IF THE IRANIANS ARE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH, WE’RE CERTAINLY WILLING TO EXTEND THE OPEN HAND. IF THEY’RE GOING TO TRY TO PLAY US, THEN THEY’RE GOING TO FIND THAT THE NEGOTIATING TEAM IS NOT THAT RECEPTIVE. IRAN HAS ALREADY FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE PRESIDENT’S MAIN CONDITION FOR THE CEASEFIRE, REOPENING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. THE DEAL, BROKERED BY PAKISTAN, STILL FACES HURDLES AS ISRAEL CONTINUES TO LAUNCH ATTACKS IN LEBANON. I ALSO SET CONDITIONS BEFORE NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN. OUR COVERAGE OF THIS DEVELOPING SITUATION CONTINUES IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR, OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT JACKIE DEFUSCO WILL JOIN US WITH UP TO THE MINUTE UPDATES ON THESE NEGOTIATIONS. THE PENGUINS ARE PLAYOFF BOUND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE SEASONS, BUT FIRST, THEY HAVE TO GET THROUGH THREE MORE REGULAR SEASON GAMES, INCLUDING TODAY’S MATCHUP AGAINST THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS. FANS ARE ALREADY GEARING UP FOR HOME ICE ADVANTAGE IN ROUND ONE OF THE PLAYOFFS, THOUGH REPORTER SHELDON INGRAM CAUGHT UP WITH THOSE FANS YESTERDAY. KRISTINA JOHNSON FLEW IN FROM LAKE MARY, FLORIDA. BRIAN SAVAGE TRAVELED FROM PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK, AND MORGAN AMBROSIA CAME FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. THEY’RE ALL ABOARD THE PENGUINS HYPE TRAIN. NOW THAT THE TEAM HAS CLINCHED A SPOT IN THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS, MORGAN SAYS HE’S BEEN A FAN SINCE WATCHING THE 2009 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THE SECOND ROUND GAME SEVEN AGAINST THE CAPSULE IS THE FIRST GAME I EVER WATCHED. PENGUINS WON THAT GAME, AND PENGUINS FAN EVER SINCE. STAYED GOOD, STAYED HEALTHY. A LOT OF PLAYERS THAT PLAYED A LOT BETTER THAN THEY WERE EXPECTING. AND SO, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE’RE HERE, I CAN’T WAIT. YOUR REACTION TO THE PENGUINS MAKING THE PLAYOFFS. I’M ECSTATIC. ABSOLUTELY ECSTATIC. I FLEW ALL THE WAY UP HERE TO SEE THEM PLAY TOMORROW. FROM WHERE? LAKE MARY, FLORIDA. I HAD FAITH THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE IT. IT’S BEEN THREE YEARS OF DROUGHT, SO IT’S TIME. ARE YOU GOING TO THE GAME TOMORROW? WE ARE. YEAH YEAH YEAH. HOW FAR DO YOU THINK THE PENGUINS ARE GOING TO MAKE IT? HOPEFULLY ALL THE WAY. WE’LL SEE. WE GOT THE TALENT TO DO IT AS SO MANY PENGUINS FANS ALREADY KNOW, IT’S BEEN A THREE YEAR DROUGHT AWAY FROM THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS. BUT NOW THEY’RE IN. SOME FANS SAY THEY WERE FEELING SKEPTICAL WHEN THE TEAM WASN’T PLAYING ITS BEST DURING THE SEASON, BUT LATELY, THE TEAM HAS SPARKED ANOTHER WAVE OF EXCITEMENT, SO FANS ARE HOPING THE PENS STORM THROUGH THE PLAYOFFS. I MEAN, IT’S GREAT JUST TO SEE THE THE LIVELINESS IN THE CITY, AROUND THE TEAM AND ALL THAT. IT’S BEEN GREAT, ESPECIALLY BEING OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS FOR SO LONG. WE’RE USED TO IN PITTSBURGH WINNING TEAMS. SO YOU KNOW IT’S GREAT TO GET THEM IN THERE. SHELDON INGRAM PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. TICKETS FOR THE ROUND ONE OF THE PLAYOFFS ARE ON SALE NOW. THE NHL WILL ANNOUNCE THE FULL SCHEDULE FOR ROUND ONE UNTIL ALL THE STANDINGS ARE SET, BUT TICKETS FOR THE FIRST TWO HOME GAMES ARE ALREADY ON SALE ON TICKETMASTER. DATES AND TIMES FOR THOSE GAMES ARE STILL TO BE DETERMINED. AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN SEE TODAY’S GAME BETWEEN THE PENGUINS AND THE CAPITALS RIGHT HERE. JOIN US FOR SPECIAL PENS ON FOR COVERAGE ONLINE STARTING AT 2 P.M. WE’LL HAVE FULL COVERAGE FOR YOU LEADING UP TO PUCK DROP AT THREE ON WTAE CHANNEL 4. NOW TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL. TODAY MARKS THE UNOFFICIAL START OF THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON FOR THE PITT PANTHERS. THE TEAM IS HOLDING THEIR ANNUAL BLUE AND GOLD GAME AT ACRISURE STADIUM, BUT IT WILL LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. THERE WON’T BE ANY FANS. THAT’S BECAUSE OF DRAFT PREPARATIONS HAPPENING AROUND THE STADIUM. HOWEVER, KICKOFF IS SET FOR 1 P.M. AND SPEAKING OF THE NFL DRAFT, WE ARE NOW JUST 12 DAYS AWAY FROM THE FIRST ROUND. CREWS HAVE BEEN SETTING UP THE FENCING AT POINT STATE PARK. THAT’S THE SITE FOR THE FAN EXPERIENCES ORGANIZED BY THE STEELERS AND THE NFL. AND THIS MORNING WE’RE LEARNING ABOUT MORE ABOUT THE CITY’S SECURITY PLAN. CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL BE THE LEAD ON PUBLIC SAFETY DURING THE DRAFT, AND THEY HAVE CALLED IN SUPPORT RESOURCES FROM ALL OVER THE REGION. THE FBI WILL HAVE HUNDREDS OF AGENTS ON THE GROUND MONITORING CYBER INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS TRAFFICKING LEADS. ALSO, THEY’RE ALSO SAYING THEY’LL KEEP RECREATIONAL DRONES OUT, CITING SAFETY HAZARDS. FAA IS GOING TO IMPLEMENT A MILE RADIUS, ONE MILE RADIUS FROM THE LOCATION OF THE MAIN EVENT HERE. SO WE SHOULDN’T REALLY HAVE ANY RECREATIONAL PERSONAL DRONES OPERATING ANYWHERE IN THE AREA OF DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. THERE’S NO WAY PITTSBURGH COULD EVER TAKE THIS HUGE UNDERTAKING BY ITSELF, EVEN WITH ALL THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK INSIDE PUBLIC SAFETY. IT JUST WOULD BE A TASK THAT WOULD GO BEYOND OUR CAPABILITY. AND SO THE PARTNERSHIP IS IMPORTANT. CITY EMS SAYS THEY’RE WORKING COORDINATE QUICK ACCESS AND PLANNING THEIR WAY AROUND ROAD CLOSURES. WHILE THE POLICE WILL BE COORDINATING WITH THE LEAGUE ON ENTRY RESTRICTIONS LIKE BACK SCREENINGS. HEADS UP FOR DRIVERS. EVEN MORE ROAD CLOSURES EXPECTED TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK STARTING MONDAY, NORTH SHORE DRIVE TONY DORSETT DRIVE, CHUCK NOLL WAY, RIDSDALE STREET AND CASINO DRIVE WILL CLOSE, PLUS THE PARKWAY NORTH RAMP TO THE NORTH SHORE WILL ALSO CLOSE. THE UPPER DECK OF THE FORT DUQUESNE BRIDGE LEFT HAND RAMP TO NORTH SHORE TO THE NORTH SHORE WILL CLOSE ON THE 20TH ALONG WITH HOV LANES. THIS WILL ALL LEAD UP TO. THE FULL LIST OF CLOSURES CAN BE FOUND ON WTAE.COM. RIGHT NOW. WORK ON A BRAND NEW SPORTS FIELD AND COMPLEX IN PITTSBURGH’S HAZELWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD IS NEARING COMPLETION. THIS PROJECT IS PART OF THE STEELERS CHARITIES AND THE RICHARD MELLON FOUNDATION. SKY 4. FLYING OVER THE CONSTRUCTION SITE, YOU CAN SEE THERE. A PROJECT YEARS IN THE MAKING. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER YASMIN RODRIGUEZ IS HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO WORK AND LIVE IN THE AREA ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE HAZELWOOD. THE REPUTATION HASN’T BEEN THE BEST, BUT WE DO KNOW FROM TALKING TO LOCALS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE, EVEN EVEN COMING BACK AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, WHO HAVE LIVED ELSEWHERE, THEY’RE LIKE, THEY’RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HAZELWOOD GET KIND OF ITS DUE. IT WAS BACK IN 2023. THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS ANNOUNCED A NEW STATE OF THE ART COMMUNITY, FIELD AND YOUTH RECREATION COMPLEX AT HAZELWOOD GREEN. THE COMPLEX WILL BE OPERATED BY THE STEELERS CHARITIES AND BRANDED WITH THE STEELERS LOGO. IT’S A PROJECT. I MEAN, IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, BUT IT’S BEEN A REALLY GREAT PROCESS THROUGHOUT. IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT BOOST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE YOUTH FOOTBALL CLINICS WITH STEELERS PLAYERS, SOCCER GAMES AND INDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES. ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL GET TO EXPERIENCE THIS NEW FIELD ARE THE HAZELWOOD COBRAS. THIS FIELD IS GOING TO BE FOR YOUTH SPORTS. THE HAZELWOOD COBRAS, WHICH ARE OUR LOCAL KIDS FOOTBALL TEAM. HAZELWOOD GREEN, SITS ON THE SITE OF THE FORMER LTV STEEL WORKS. THE 178 ACRE FIELD IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE MONONGAHELA RIVER FROM THE UPMC ROONEY SPORTS COMPLEX. IT’S AN AREA THAT’S BEEN DEPRESSED SINCE STEEL MILL TIME, AND IT NEEDS AN INJECTION OF ENERGY AND BUSINESS, AND NEARBY BUSINESSES SAY THEY ARE EXCITED TO SEE AN ECONOMIC BOOST WITH THE FIELD OPENING. WE’RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT NOT ONLY THE EXPOSURE IT WILL GIVE US AND BUT OBVIOUSLY THE AREA IN THE COMMUNITY. WE’RE HOPING THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A FLOODGATES KIND OF OPENING FOR THE WHOLE LITTLE AREA. THAT WAS YASMIN RODRIGUEZ REPORTING THE RICHARD KING MELLON FOUNDATION AWARDED THE STEELERS CHARITIES $10 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT, AND IT HASN’T BEEN ANNOUNCED JUST YET WHEN EX
Police seek to ID man after reported indecent exposure incident at Pittsburgh gas station
Updated: 2:54 PM EDT Apr 11, 2026
Officials are asking for help in identifying a man who reportedly exposed himself at a gas station in Pittsburgh earlier this week. VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Pittsburgh police said the incident occurred on April 8 at the Shell Gas Station on 5th Avenue in the city’s Uptown neighborhood. Authorities said an adult man is accused of exposing himself to an employee and leaving the scene before police arrived. Anyone with information on the individual is asked to contact the Zone 2 station at 412-255-2827.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
Officials are asking for help in identifying a man who reportedly exposed himself at a gas station in Pittsburgh earlier this week.
VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4
Pittsburgh police said the incident occurred on April 8 at the Shell Gas Station on 5th Avenue in the city’s Uptown neighborhood.
Authorities said an adult man is accused of exposing himself to an employee and leaving the scene before police arrived.
Anyone with information on the individual is asked to contact the Zone 2 station at 412-255-2827.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.