Officer bitten by dog while taking man into custody
A Belle Vernon man and his girlfriend were arrested early Sunday by Donora police after an officer was bitten by a pit bull as he tried to take the man into custody on a Westmoreland County bench warrant and other charges.
Joshua Rose, 20, and Jade Hewitt, 18, of 159 Linden Way, Donora, were taken into custody at Hewitt’s home after getting information that the Belle Vernon man was at the residence..
When Donora police arrived at the home about 1:30 a.m., they knocked but no one answered the door, even though officers could hear someone inside and could hear a dog barking. Police tried yelling for them to answer the door, but got no response. Police talked with Hewitt’s grandmother, who said the two should be inside the house.
Police yelled that they planned to force open the door. Carroll Township and Monongahela police were called for assistance. Police forced open the door, but it also was chained. When police entered the home, they said they found Hewitt hiding under a blanket with the dog near her. Officers told her to restrain the dog as they grabbed Rose. Police said she did not listen to their order, and the dog reportedly bit Officer Michael Parry in the right leg.
Donora police tried to arrest Rose about 7 p.m. Saturday in the 200 block of Second Street after spotting him sitting in the passenger seat of a parked vehicle. After they told him to get out of the vehicle, Rose reportedly broke free from officers and ran into a wooded area. Police were joined by officers from Carroll Township, Charleroi Regional and Monongahela in a search, but it eventually was called off.
Rose and Hewitt were arraigned before District Judge Curtis Thompson. Rose is charged with resisting arrest, flight to avoid apprehension, disorderly conduct and aggravated assault. He was placed in Washington County Jail on $10,000 bond in addition to the bench warrant. Hewitt is charged with aggravated assault, hindering apprehension and disorderly conduct. She was released from jail on a $10,000 unsecured bond following her arraignment. They are scheduled for Nov. 25 preliminary hearings before District Judge Mark Wilson.