A McKeesport man, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Stewart, has been taken into custody after a high-speed chase that culminated in a crash and an attempted carjacking. The incident, which unfolded Wednesday night, began when Stewart's Jeep Cherokee was spotted driving erratically and at excessive speeds, prompting a deputy to attempt a traffic stop on Bausman Street, as reported by Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus.
The pursuit that ensued saw Stewart leading law enforcement through Saw Mill Run Boulevard, Crane Avenue, and ultimately onto Banksville Road—where his vehicle collided with another, resulting in a broken pelvis for the driver of the struck vehicle, after which Stewart attempted to flee on foot entering a parking lot and assaulting an elderly man in a sedan in a failed attempt to hijack the car. Two onlookers courageously intervened, tackling the suspect before he could escape, which allowed the authorities to apprehend him.
Upon searching the crashed Jeep, officers discovered a handgun with a loaded clip, an assault-style weapon with a loaded clip, alongside other items, and also found that Stewart was wearing body armor at the time of his arrest. Sheriff Kraus expressed his gratitude that the individual harmed in the crash did not suffer life-threatening injuries, anticipating a swift recovery, and noted the significant threat Stewart posed to community safety. "While we can’t say with any certainty what this individual’s intentions were last night, it’s clear from the way he was outfitted and from the items recovered from the car, that he is an extremely dangerous person who posed a significant threat to the safety of our community," as stated by County Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus.
Following his arrest, Stewart was transported to Allegheny County Jail where he faced arraignment on numerous charges, significant amongst these were due to his reckless driving and public endangerment, and he is currently dealing with detainers on active bench warrants from multiple counties.
