Man Faces Several Charges After Hitting Police Car, Attempting To Escape Scene
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Mario Plowden, 44, is in custody and charges are pending after he struck a police car, two other vehicles and attempted to elude arrest on Wednesday in Garfield.
According to police, officers were traveling along Columbo Street and North Negley Avenue just after 6 p.m. when a Dodge Durango t-boned their car.
None of the three officers were hurt in the crash but when they ordered Plowden to exit the vehicle, he ignored their command and drove off, nearly hitting the officers.
He also took off the wrong way down a one-way street as he attempted to evade police, traveling well over the speed limit.
As Plowden attempted to escape the police, he also hit two other vehicles along Stanton and Negley Avenue.
Neither driver of those vehicles was hurt.
"I would say yes it's a shock that something like that came through here," said Maureen McKee, who has family in Morningside. "When something like that happens, it kind of brings you back to well, yeah, there are crazies out there."
Police eventually caught Plowden in Morningside at King Avenue. When they were placing him under arrest, he admitted to being under the influence and given a breathalyzer test.
A search of his vehicle found a toddler in the backseat not wearing a seat belt or in a car seat.
The toddler, who is the daughter of the driver, was unhurt but taken to Children's Hospital to be evaluated. They were eventually released to the custody of their mother.
Plowden faces several charges, including endangering welfare of children, aggravated assault, fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving under the influence, recklessly endangering another person and driving with a suspended license among them.