Police: Motorcyclist tried to run down trooper near Fort Pitt Tunnel

Police say a motorcyclist tried to run down a state trooper who attempted to pull him over for using the shoulder along the Parkway West as a passing lane.

The man who was arrested, however, told police that he swerved onto the shoulder to avoid hitting a vehicle that stopped quickly in front of him and that he never saw the emergency lights or the trooper who ordered him to stop.

Alexandre V. Rattes, 61, of Derwood, Md., was charged with aggravated assault, attempting to flee from police, reckless endangerment, driving without a license and several other traffic violations.

The incident occurred at about 4:40 p.m. Tuesday along the Parkway West just before the runaway truck ramp near the Fort Pitt Tunnel, according to authorities.

Trooper Matthew Shaffer was in a marked patrol vehicle stopped along the side of the highway when he spotted a motorcycle in his rear-view mirror that was driving along the shoulder to pass vehicles, according to a criminal complaint.

Shaffer turned on his vehicle’s emergency lights and stepped out to wave for the motorcyclist to pull over.

But Rattes allegedly ignored the trooper’s commands and turned the motorcycle around.

When Rattes was about 60 feet away he accelerated toward Shaffer, according to complaint.

As the motorcycle approached, Shaffer moved away from his cruiser to avoid being crushed against it and pushed off Rattes’ body as the cycle passed between him and the police vehicle.

The push caused Rattes to loose control and crash the motorcycle.

Shaffer suffered a scrape on his arm during the incident.

Rattes, whose injuries were not disclosed, was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital in Uptown for treatment. He will be taken to the Allegheny County Jail when he is released, according to authorities.

Investigators said the incident was recorded by the trooper’s dash camera.

Rattes is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on April 30 before Judge Kim Berkeley Clark.