By Jim McKinnon
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — A search is on for a Fayette County man who state police said tried to run over a township police chief during a traffic stop yesterday.
James Simon Thompson, 52, of Redstone, has been charged in the incident with aggravated assault, simple assault and resisting arrest, though he remains a fugitive, state police in Uniontown said.
Mr. Thompson had been a passenger in a vehicle driven by a woman who was pulled over yesterday by Redstone police Officer Norman Howard.
The officer was being backed up by Luzerne Police Chief Roy Mehalik.
Officer Howard had placed the woman, who had outstanding bench warrants, in his cruiser and, as he approached Mr. Thompson, a scuffle ensued.
Mr. Thompson then got behind the wheel of the woman’s vehicle, a 1999 Chevy Malibu, and crashed it into Chief Mehalik’s cruiser, state police said.
Mr. Thompson then fled the scene while the two officers fired shots at him, state police said.
It was not know whether Mr. Thompson was injured in the collision or wounded by the gunfire.
Neither officer was injured, police said.
Anyone with information about Mr. Thompson’s whereabouts can call state police at 724-439-7111.
Copyright 2008 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette