Turtle Creek man accused of shooting at Allegheny County Police detectives
A Turtle Creek man was arrested Thursday night after Allegheny County Police said he shot at three detectives in Wilmerding.
Police charged Matthew Stephen Diggs Jr., 20, with criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, assault on a police officer and a firearm violation.
According to county police, the detectives, assigned to the department’s violent crime and firearms squad, were patrolling in an unmarked vehicle when they saw Diggs shortly after 7 p.m. walking in the 1000 block of Middle Avenue in Wilmerding. The officers saw Diggs appeared to be armed, drove past him and stopped.
Police said two of the three officers got out of their vehicle to talk with Diggs, identifying themselves verbally and by police markings on their clothing.
Police said Diggs immediately opened fire with a handgun, hitting their vehicle. Two of the officers returned fire.
Neither Driggs or the officers were hit. Driggs fled the area on foot.
Officers from multiple agencies searched the area. Driggs was found about 40 minutes later about a mile away in the 900 block of Sycamore Street in Turtle Creek.
Diggs was denied bail at an arraignment Friday morning and sent to the Allegheny County Jail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 21.
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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