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VEHICLE PURSUIT OF BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT Galleries

WILD PURSUIT OF A BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH 09/05/2008 : On Friday, September 5, 2008 at approximately 5:50 p.m. a w/m wearing a gray hoodie, black wig, black baseball cap, a dark bandana and gloves entered the National City bank, located in the Banksville shopping plaza on Banksville Road, at the City of Pittsburgh/Dormont line. Once inside the bank, the actor jumped the counter and told the bank tellers that he had a gun and demanded money. Tellers placed the money into a money bag and the actor fled the bank, without injuring anyone inside the bank. Once outside the bank, the actor jumped into the driver’s side of a silver minivan type vehicle, which was parked in the parking lot, with his female accomplice inside. A female witness, who had observed the actor enter and exit the bank, called 9-1-1 to report the suspicious activity. The witness was able to provide a description of the vehicle, the registration number and a direction of flight on the fleeing vehicle, as well as a description of the actor. The witness followed the fleeing vehicle, updating 9-1-1 call taker with the current location of the suspect vehicle. At approximately the same time, National City bank employees were reporting the robbery. A BOLO was put out to City of Pittsburgh police, as well as Dormont and Mt. Lebanon police, with the description of the vehicle and the actor. The suspect vehicle made its way from Banksville Road to Route 51 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard),via Crane Avenue. The suspect vehicle turned right on Saw Mill Run Boulevard, where a City of Pittsburgh K-9 unit spotted the suspect vehicle, that was still being followed by the witness. The officer attempted to stop the suspect vehicle on Saw Mill Run Boulevard near W. Warrington Avenue. The suspect vehicle failed to yield for the officer and a pursuit was initiated. The officer calling the pursuit reported that the suspect vehicle was a Saturn Vue and not a minivan, as initially reported. Pittsburgh K9 officer continued pursuing the suspect vehicle up W. Warrington Avenue towards the Beltzhoover neighborhood. Numerous other Pittsburgh police vehicles joined in on the pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued through the Mt. Washington neighborhood, on a track towards the West End of Pittsburgh. The pursuit continued out Carson Street towards the Fort Pitt Bridge. The suspect vehicle exited Carson Street onto the Fort Pitt Bridge, followed by a fleet of Pittsburgh Police vehicles. The pursuit continued from the Fort Pitt Bridge onto the Fort Duquesne Bridge. The suspect vehicle took the ramp to Route 28 Northbound at approximately 6:01 p.m. At this time, municipal police agencies along Route 28, as well as the Pennsylvania state police were notified of the pursuit of the bank robbery suspect, who was motoring towards their jurisdictions. The suspect vehicle exited Route 28 and entered into the borough of Etna at approximately 6:07 p.m. At this time, officers from Etna, and Shaler Township joined in on the pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued on Butler Street in Etna towards Washington Street. The suspect vehicle continued on Butler Street, passing Freeport towards Sharpsburg. The City of Pittsburgh police channels as well as Newcom area police channels were patched together, to enable better communications between the involved agencies during the pursuit. With the pursuit entering Main Street in Sharpsburg, officers from Sharpsburg, Aspinwall, Blawnox, and Millvale now joined the chase. The chase continued on Main Street through Sharpsburg. The suspect vehicle encountered slow traffic in the 1600 block of Main Street. The suspect took desperate, evasive actions and hopped the sidewalk. Officers attempted to set up spike strips on the sidewalk, in efforts to slow down and eventually put an end to this wild chase. However, the vehicle continued traveling on the sidewalk for nearly two blocks, before entering back onto Main Street in the area of 18th Street and continued to the entrance ramp of Route 28, where the suspect vehicle entered the expressway and continued southbound, back towards the city of Pittsburgh. Additional officers set up more spike strips along the expressway. The vehicle struck the spikes deflating at least one tire on the vehicle. The suspect vehicle continued south on Route 28 towards the 40th Street bridge, where he encountered heavy rush hour traffic congestion. The suspect continued to press on with his erratic driving, trying to squeeze between gridlocked traffic. The suspect vehicle struck another civilian vehicle with its passenger side mirror. The suspect vehicle then struck the rear of a tractor trailer truck and almost became disabled, allowing officers to close in on the suspect vehicle with their guns drawn. Amazingly, the suspect vehicle was able to break free and continue down the expressway, nearly striking officers who were out of their vehicles. At one point, the operator of a tractor trailer veered into the passenger side of the suspect vehicle, in efforts of pinning the vehicle in and ending this incredible chase. Yet again the determined suspect managed to squeeze his way past the trailer truck and continue southbound. Another set of spike strips were deployed successfully, with a several tires deflated and the rubber rapidly shredding free of the rims, the vehicle began slowing down prior to the 31st Street bridge. Seeing a prime opportunity to end this pursuit, Lieutenant Timothy O’Connor (3380) of Pittsburgh police zone 3 pulled up along the driver’s side of the suspect vehicle and attempted a pit maneuver, in an effort to abruptly turn the suspect vehicle sideways, causing the vehicle to come to a stop and be boxed in by other police vehicles. The suspect vehicle struck Lieutenant O’Connor’s patrol vehicle, causing it to flip onto the driver’s side for a brief time and then the patrol vehicle became upright again. The suspect vehicle made a left turn onto the 31st Street Bridge, greatly slowing down in speed. Several patrol vehicles again attempted a pit maneuver on the suspect vehicle approximately ¼ of the way across the bridge span over Washington Crossing, successfully causing the vehicle to lose control, turn sideways and strike the side of the bridge. Approximately 25 officers swarmed the suspect vehicle, removed the suspect out of the vehicle and effectively subdued and arrested the very combative suspect. Additional officers removed the female passenger from the vehicle and took her into custody without incident. Even though his patrol vehicle had flipped, was heavily damaged and he sustained an arm injury, Lieutenant O’Connor was able to drive to the end of the chase scene, to see the suspects being led away in cuffs and placed into the rear of separate patrol vehicles. The female suspect was transported to the City of Pittsburgh Major Crimes Bureau, where she was interviewed by detectives. The male suspect was transported to Allegheny General Hospital for treatment and then was transported to the Major Crimes Bureau, where he too was questioned by detectives. The 31st Street Bridge was shut down for several hours, so that detectives could process the scene. In all, this wild pursuit encompassed 20(+) miles, through multiple jurisdictions, involving a multiplicity of police vehicles. In addition to Lieutenant O’Connor, a few municipal officers also sustained minor injuries during the pursuit, when their patrol vehicles were involved in crashes. KUDOS to all of the police officers involved for a job well done!!! The suspects have been identified as John McCleavy, 36, of Pittsburgh and Meghan Jaeger, 21, of Ohio. McCleavy has a lengthy criminal record and Jaeger has a couple recent criminal charges. Both actors were arraigned and lodged in the Allegheny County Jail. Both are facing numerous charges including aggravated assault, robbery, reckless endangerment of another person, receiving stolen property, fleeing and eluding and hit and run. Jaeger will also be charged with conspiracy. KUDOS also goes out to WTAE TV4 and the crew in SKY 4 helicopter for a magnificent job in covering the chase as it unfolded.

WILD PURSUIT OF A BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH 09/05/2008

On Friday, September 5, 2008 at approximately 5:50 p.m. a w/m wearing a gray hoodie, black wig, black baseball cap, a dark bandana and gloves entered the National City bank, located in the Banksville shopping plaza on Banksville Road, at the City of Pittsburgh/Dormont line. Once inside the bank, the actor jumped the counter and told the ...

Updated: Sep 07, 2008 12:05am PST

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