Washington Township police charge man following alleged bar assault, chase

An Irwin man is accused of firing at least one gunshot into a hillside outside a Washington Township bar Tuesday evening and then leading police on a high-speed chase.

Michael Habura, 45, faces multiple charges including assaulting a woman.

According to police, patrons of Shootin’ Bull Tavern told them they heard several gunshots from the parking lot behind the bar shortly before 7:30 p.m. When they came outside, they told police they saw a man get into a truck and begin to leave. In doing so, they say, the truck struck several vehicles in the parking lot.

One of the vehicle owners, a woman, confronted the man but was shoved to the ground. When others intervened, the man fled the parking lot, the witnesses told police.

When police tried to pull Habura over, they said he led them on a high-speed chase along Route 380.

During the chase, police said, Habura suddenly pulled over to the side of the road and put his truck, which was towing a trailer, into reverse.

Fearing for his safety, a township police officer jumped from his car and ordered Habura out of his truck at gunpoint, police said.

In an affidavit, the arresting officer said Habura had a heavy odor of alcohol on him, slurred speech and glassy, blood-shot eyes.

Habura refused to take a blood alcohol test.

He is charged with assaulting the woman, two drunken or drugged driving charges and two counts of leaving the scene and not reporting an accident.

Washington Township District Judge Jason Buczak set Habura’s bond at $50,000. He was sent to Westmoreland County Prison pending a July 1 preliminary hearing.