New Kensington police say man wanted on warrant tried to grab officer's gun during arrest

A Fawn man wanted on an arrest warrant is accused of grabbing a New Kensington police officer’s gun while scuffling as he was being taken into custody.

Peter William Mlynar, 37, of the 300 block of Sugar Loaf Lane was charged with a felony count of disarming a police officer along with counts of resisting arrest and driving with a suspended license.

Following his Nov. 22 arrest, Mlynar was detained in the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of a $40,000 cash bond. He was released Monday after a family member posted a bond, court records show.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 7 before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.

Mlynar was stopped near a car repair garage off Logans Ferry Road after Lower Burrell police alerted officers in New Kensington that he was spotted driving a Jeep along Route 366, according to a criminal complaint.

An officer was able to intercept Mlynar at the intersection of Industrial Boulevard and Freeport Street using information from license plate readers that Lower Burrell police were using to track his route, the complaint said.

Police said Mlynar rolled the window halfway down but refused the officer’s order to get out of the vehicle.

The scuffle started when the officer reached in and opened the locked door from the inside as Mlynar tried to roll up the window, the complaint said.

The officer was able to grab Mlynar’s arm, pin him against the SUV and call for backup, investigators said.

While the officer was holding him, Mlynar used his free, right hand to find the officer’s holster and pull on his gun, the complaint said.

The officer was able to regain control of Mlynar by slapping him, the complaint said.

He was taken into custody by deputies from the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office, which issued the warrant for his arrest for previously fleeing from police, according to the complaint.

Court records show that Lower Burrell police charged Mlynar in September 2022 with fleeing from police, driving with a suspended license and driving a vehicle that wasn’t registered or inspected.

He was ordered to stand trial on the charges in Westmoreland County Court. A bench warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to show up for formal arraignment May 10, court records show.