Oct 27, 2015 2 min read

An off-duty McDonald police detective was injured Monday during a foot chase with a Canonsburg man who was later charged with heroin possession.

Detective Timothy Motte suffered head contusions when he used his head to strike John Francis McFalls III during a struggle to prevent him from taking control of the officer’s flashlight, which Motte was using to subdue the suspect, court records show.

Motte earlier noticed McFalls staggering along West Lincoln Avenue before he walked into woods and later emerged to sit down on a curb, police stated in the affidavit.

Motte said he attempted to place McFalls under arrest for using a syringe while he was seated on the curb.

McFalls then ran down West Lincoln with Motte in pursuit through heavy traffic.

McFalls was tackled twice and got away from Motte before he was again taken to the ground by the officer in a parking lot at 315 W. Barr St. at about 2:15 p.m.

Motte said he struck McFalls several times with his flashlight before the suspect was subdued and placed in a police cruiser. McFalls was accused of having two Xanax tablets and a bag of suspected heroin at the time of his arrest.

McFalls, 27, of 523 Weaver Ave., Canonsburg, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, harassment, resisting arrest and drug possession. He was sent to Washington County jail on $50,000 bond set by District Judge Mark Wilson.