Plum Man Charged In Ex-Girlfriend's Assault, Ramming Store Where She Works
APOLLO (KDKA) — A Plum man is facing a list of charges after police say he drove his car into the front doors of the Westmoreland County convenience store where his ex-girlfriend works and then assaulted her.
The incident happened just before 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Fueland BP on Route 380 in Washington Township.
The suspect, 23-year-old David Cass Jr. of Plum, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief and burglary.
According to Washington Township Police, the suspect's estranged 21-year-old girlfriend, Amber Lewis, reported to investigators that she locked the doors to the convenience store when she first saw Cass show up.
Lewis is a clerk there. She called 911 when she said Cass tried to get in.
Police say Cass backed his white Hyundai up into the bar parking lot across the street, and then sped forward. The impact of the vehicle smashed the doors in.
"We determined he backed up probably a good 200 feet away and gunned the car," said Chief Scott Slagle, of Washington Township Police. "The car actually went airborne for a moment before it hit the curb and slammed into the front door, so it could have been very dangerous."
Police say Cass smashed through the store-front, climbed out of the car window and assaulted Lewis.
Police say Lewis' 911 call stayed connected throughout the entire ordeal, and investigators say they plan to use the recorded call for evidence.
"And then they heard the phone drop, and she told them at that point he punched her in the face, grabbed her by her head and slammed her head off the ground numerous times," said Chief Slagle.
Damian Hantz says he knows the Cass family.
He told KDKA's Kym Gable, "He comes from a good family. He's a good kid. He may have lost it for a little bit because of a fight with a girlfriend... obviously, to drive a car through a building."
Police say while they were at the scene conducting their investigation, they spotted Cass' car driving by the scene and after a short chase stopped the vehicle and took the suspect into custody without incident.
The front doors of the building were damaged in the incident. Police say they found glass strewn about the parking lot as well as acceleration marks from the vehicle's tires.
Cass was arraigned and later posted bond. Lewis was not seriously hurt.
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