Homewood man wanted on gun, drug charges arrested by Pittsburgh police

A Homewood man wanted for alleged firearms and narcotics violations was arrested by Pittsburgh police after a SWAT standoff Tuesday.

Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said officers on routine patrol in Zone Five observed a man with multiple active warrants near Tioga Street just after 4:30 pm.

The man, later identified as John McClendon, 33, fled on foot into a home along the 7300 block of Hamilton Avenue.

Police say McClendon fled on foot when officers tried to arrest him. After a short foot pursuit, officers saw McClendon entering a home in the 7300 block of Hamilton Avenue.

Cruz said the SWAT and tactical negotiations teams were called to assist due to McClendon’s history of gun violence, and for the safety of anyone in the home.

She said a woman from the residence surrendered to authorities just before 6:30 p.m. and a pit bull was safely removed from the home and placed with a neighbor.

Police then executed a search warrant to look for the suspect inside the residence after negotiators failed to get McClendon to come out.

Officers found him hiding in a “well-concealed area of the home” where he was taken into custody, Cruz reported.

McClendon faces charges of flight to avoid apprehension, in addition to his numerous outstanding warrants for felony gun and drug violations, resisting arrest, flight to avoid apprehension, and fleeing and eluding.

Cruz said he was transported to a local hospital after he told officers he was experiencing an undisclosed medical condition.