Police: Cuffed assault suspect launched himself down Frazer hillside

A New Kensington man who police say attacked his girlfriend and another man last week at a Frazer gas station is accused of trying to get away from officers by launching himself down a steep hillside while handcuffed.

Frazer police Sgt. Aaron Scott said officers were called to the Sam’s Club gas station just after 3 p.m. Friday about a reported assault.

Scott said a woman told authorities that Christopher Wayne Debus, 43, struck her in the face during an argument and then attacked an attendant who tried to intervene.

Scott said Debus ran into nearby woods, where police tracked him down and placed him in cuffs with his hands behind his back.

Debus managed to get away from officers and then launched himself down a hillside.

“It was a very steep hill that he dove down,” Scott said. “It’s not like just a slanted hill. It’s almost like a cliff.”

Scott said officers tracked down Debus again, handcuffed his ankles together and took him to the bottom of the hill, where emergency crews cut through a fence separating Route 28 from the woods to get him out.

“There was no way we were going to bring him up the hill because we had his legs shackled because he was kicking, trying to fight,” Scott said.

Debus was evaluated at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison before being taken to Allegheny County Jail. He faces charges of reckless endangerment, obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness, and Scott said assault charges could be filed.

Debus was released Saturday on nonmonetary bond. A preliminary hearing is set for June 10.