Pittsburgh Police have apprehended a suspect linked to a daring carjacking incident on the city's North Side, following a high-speed pursuit that cut a swathe through several neighborhoods and endangered countless lives. Aaron Morris, 20, faces a litany of charges in what reads like a police blotter's greatest hits: felony counts of Robbery of a Motor Vehicle, Receiving Stolen Property, Fleeing and Eluding, Aggravated Assault, in addition to Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Resisting Arrest, Accident Involving Damage to Attended Vehicle, Disorderly Conduct, and numerous traffic violations, as reported by Pittsburgh's Public Safety Department.
The drama unfolded just past the rush hour when Zone 1 detectives witnessed an audacious carjacking at the intersection of Middle Street and E. Ohio. The male suspect, now identified as Morris, then embarked on a dangerous escape, heading north on I-279, doubling back into Oakland, and pressing on through the densely populated Strip District—where police wisely aborted their chase, prioritizing public safety over immediate capture, due to several pedestrians and the volume of traffic.
Morris's run from the law came to an abrupt halt on the North Side, where the stolen car was remotely disabled by OnStar, allowing officers to capture him at E. North and Middle Street. Caught, Morris confessed to officers that he was under the influence of narcotics during the hell-bent drive. He was subsequently taken to the hospital for evaluation, a necessary detour on his way to the Allegheny County Jail.
During a chaotic series of events, a woman had her car taken but came away unharmed. Her vehicle, damaged from a reckless ride, was towed for investigation. This incident adds to an ongoing probe into the links between drug abuse and violent crime in Pittsburgh. Morris's legal troubles highlight a troubling pattern where drugs drive crime, putting the whole community at risk.
