HOMESTEAD (KDKA) – A police officer was hurt this morning while chasing a man who allegedly stole a woman’s car Wednesday morning.

The woman had left the engine running to warm up the car when someone jumped in and took off.

According to police, 43-year-old Richard McDonald was walking along the 1400-block of Mifflin Street when he decided to steal a car around 6:30 a.m.

“The owner went out and started her car up to warm it up before she went to work. He came along, obviously the doors weren’t locked. He saw an opportunity and took it,” Homestead Police Chief J.A. DeSimone said.

McDonald now had a car, but where did he go?

“[We] started canvasing the area, we had some hunches where it might be going, played the hunches out and actually one of the officers passed the vehicle up in West Mifflin,” Chief DeSimone said.

Cpl. Stephen Adams turned around and started trailing the stolen Acura. Close to Monview Heights, McDonald bailed and tried to run. Somewhere along an icy hillside, Adams caught up with McDonald.

“Besides the frozen ground, it was on a pretty steep hillside. Not a drop-off, but close to it,” Chief DeSimone said. “Struggle, break up, roll, struggle, break up, roll. It wasn’t an easy trip down.”

Cpl. Adams eventually caught and cuffed McDonald who is like to face the following counts.

“Besides the theft of the vehicle, possible DUI, resisting arrest and assault of a police officer,” Chief DeSimone said.

Cpl. Adams was taken to a local hospital for treatment, but is expected to be okay. He’s not exactly a rookie either.

“Actually he’s the senior, as far as seniority goes, officer in the department,” Chief DeSimone said. “I’m proud of him.”

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