Oct 30, 2015 3 min read

A Canonsburg man was arrested Thursday by borough police when he allegedly raised a hatchet and bayonet at two officers as they approached him to talk about a reported assault of a man at a Canonsburg bar.

Aaron V. Carver, 48, of 136 E. Pike St., was found by police in a parking lot in the 100 block of North Central Avenue.

Police had been called about 6:15 p.m. for a report of a man swinging a hatchet and machete, threatening to kill people. Officers Jonathon Cornell and Thomas O’Rourke arrived and found a man, later identified as Carver, sitting on a curb holding a hatchet and what appeared to be a bayonet. When the two officers approached, giving him commands to drop the weapons, Carver reportedly stood up and came at them with the weapons raised in his hands, yelling “Shoot me.”

O’Rourke had his Taser drawn. After numerous commands from both officers to drop the weapons, O’Rourke fired his Taser at Carver. The suspect fell to the curb but maintained his grip on the weapons. Carver stood up and came at the two officers in what police described as a combative manner. O’Rourke activated his Taser a second time and Carver again fell, still holding onto the weapons. He continued to ignore commands to drop the weapons, police said. O’Rourke activated the Taser two more times before Carver released his grip on the weapons and rolled on his stomach.

Police said Carver appeared to be visibly intoxicated, and that a suspected marijuana pipe was found in his pants pocket during a pat-down.

A witness told police that Carver attacked a man inside McGrogan’s Taproom, 45 E. Pike St. The alleged victim, Chris Willis, was outside the bar. Willis told police that Carver was walking around yelling that he was going to kill someone, and he noticed the suspect was carrying a hatchet and bayonet. Carver then reportedly went up to Willis and swung the hatchet at his head, police said. Willis told police that he put up his right hand to block the hatchet and was hit on the right wrist with the handle. He told police he was not injured.

On Monday, police charged Carver with public drunkenness after he reportedly was causing problems inside a bar.

Carver was arraigned before District Judge Mark Wilson on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault, simple assault, disorderly conduct, harassment, public drunkenness and possession of paraphernalia. He was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 18 before District Judge David Mark.