A West Mifflin man was arrested in Cheswick early Tuesday after an extensive search by police from multiple departments. The search started after the man accepted a courtesy ride from a Springdale officer.
According to a criminal complaint, Tyrone Steele, 24, waved down a Springdale police officer on Pittsburgh Street in the area of Orchard Street about 3:45 a.m. Steele asked the officer if the direction he had been walking was toward Pittsburgh, the complaint said.
When Steele told the officer he was trying to get back to Mt. Oliver, the officer said he could give Steele a ride to a bus stop at The Waterworks mall, but would have to check him first, according to the complaint.
Police said Steele gave the officer a different name, which came back as being a person wanted out of Mt. Oliver. When the officer went to take him into custody, Steele ran, leaving a bookbag behind in the trunk of the police vehicle, police said.
The officer lost sight of Steele on Walters Lane, police said. Officers from Tarentum and Allegheny Valley Regional helped in searching the area for about an hour before giving up, according to the complaint.
In Steele’s bookbag, police said, they found clothing, a marijuana cigar and a BB gun pistol.
The officer continued to patrol the area and spotted Steele on Pittsburgh Street near Duquesne Court, and Steele took off again, the complaint said.
This time, officers from Tarentum, Allegheny Valley, Frazer and Harrison searched the area and found Steele in front of Big Dogs on Pittsburgh Street in Cheswick, where he was taken into custody. That’s about 2 miles from the area of Pittsburgh and Orchard streets.
Police said Steele gave his real name when he was being placed into a holding cell. Police found he was wanted on a warrant out of the Allegheny County Probation Office. Police took Steele to the Allegheny County Jail.
Sprindale police charged Steele with two weapons offenses for the BB gun; evading arrest or detention on foot; giving false identification to law enforcement; disorderly conduct; loitering and prowling at nighttime; and drug possession.
Steele was arraigned Tuesday night and kept in jail on $1,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 10 before District Judge David J. Sosovicka.
