Police: Monongahela man abandons daughter, injures troopers

Three state troopers were injured while trying to arrest a man who allegedly drove his 4-year-old daughter to Dairy Queen in Fallowfield Township while under the influence of drugs and abandoned her there.
Michael Cody Tatar, 30, of Hoon Street, Monongahela, is facing seven felonies and 11 other charges after Dairy Queen employees on Route 88 called 911 to report that he was intoxicated. According to court documents, Tatar allegedly drove his daughter to the ice cream shop about 4:15 p.m. Friday without a car seat.
The employees told police Tatar was making odd statements and falling asleep at the cash register. According to the criminal complaint, when a trooper responded and started to arrest Tatar for public drunkenness, Tatar “violently” resisted and fled, leaving his daughter behind. Police said the officer deployed a Taser, but Tatar continued to fight and grabbed the Taser from the trooper. Police said Tatar kicked and punched the trooper before running into oncoming traffic on Route 88 and jumping over an embankment.
While that officer was taken to Monongahela Valley Hospital for treatment of wrist, back and other injuries, other troopers searched for Tatar. They said they found him about 11:30 p.m. at his sister’s home on Morton Street in New Eagle.
Police said Tatar fled to the attic and refused to come down. When two troopers went up to get him, Tatar fought them, “which caused them to break through the ceiling,” the criminal complaint said. Police said the troopers, who were able to arrest Tatar, suffered scrapes, cuts and other injuries, including respiratory issues from “inhaling fiberglass-style insulation.”
Tatar was arraigned Saturday morning by District Judge Robert Redlinger and jailed on $25,000 bond.
This reportedly was not the first time Tatar ran from police, as there were other outstanding warrants for his arrest, according to the complaint. In April, Tatar was charged by Monongahela police with fleeing from police, reckless endangerment and obstruction following an attempted traffic stop at Chess and Sycamore streets.