LIBERTY TWP. - A Liberty Township teen was charged with several crimes after police said he failed to drop a handgun after Butler County Sheriff's deputies repeatedly instructed him to, authorities said.

The 17-year-old, a suspect in a theft from a car, eventually dropped the loaded 9mm handgun and was arrested. No one was hurt.

The incident started in the 5800 block of Princeton-Glendale Road after the teen allegedly broke into a vehicle and stole about $1,000 worth of property, including the gun, said Butler County Detective Monte Mayer.

Officers spotted the suspect and ordered him to surrender. At one point, the teen kept the gun in his hand and turned toward detectives.

The teen was charged with theft, breaking and entering and carrying a concealed weapon. He was also charged with two counts of possession of drugs.

House explosion leads to charges

GREEN TWP. - A 35-year-old Green Township man has been charged with arson after police said he cut a natural gas line at his home Tuesday and ignited the gas, causing an explosion.

Green Township police arrested and charged David Blum, of Vogel Avenue, late Wednesday.

The explosion caused minor injuries to Blum and severe structural damage to his home, police said. Blum slit his wrist before setting off the explosion, police said.