Man allegedly hits East Deer police officer in the face, runs away

A Tarentum man is accused of hitting an East Deer police officer in the face Thursday night when the officer tried to arrest him, according to court documents.

Zeya Icquise Dixon, 21, faces charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and loitering and prowling at night in connection with the incident. His attorney didn’t respond to a request for comment.

East Deer police Officer Jeremy Belusar said he received a report shortly before 11:30 p.m. that three men in dark clothing were looking into vehicles in the 100 block of Freeport Road.

Belusar and a Tarentum police officer went to the area. The men ran when they saw the officers, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.

Belusar said he identified himself as a police officer and told the men to stop running, but they refused. He said one man ran south on Freeport Road toward the New Kensington Bridge. The other two ran north on Freeport Road before going between houses toward Marion Street.

Belusar chased the men headed north. He lost sight of one in Edna Alley and continued to pursue the other. The man got away when he went up the hillside into thick brush toward Route 28.

Belusar said he returned to Marion Street, where he encountered Dixon.

As Belusar attempted to arrest him, Dixon allegedly said, “You can’t do this.” He shoved Belusar and struck him in the face before running off, the complaint said.

Police officers from neighboring departments arrived to help look for Dixon, who was eventually found hiding between a retaining wall and a house in the 400 block of Freeport Road, according to the complaint.

Dixon was released on a nonmonetary bond after being arraigned Friday. A preliminary hearing is set for June 12.