Man Allegedly Runs Over Girlfriend In Westmoreland County Parking Lot
EAST HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A man is facing charges after allegedly running over his girlfriend in a Westmoreland County parking lot.
According to the criminal complaint, the incident happened at the Country Side Plaza in East Huntingdon Township on Saturday.
The incident allegedly began with the suspect, 43-year-old Thomas Beaken, punching his girlfriend, Sherri Lynn Humbart, in the head during an argument.
Beaken left the scene in the victim's 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. At that time, the victim walked to the Country Market to buy cigarettes.
Upon exiting the store, the victim saw Beaken pull into the nearby Applebee's parking lot.
The victim confronted Beaken and demanded she let him drive her car. As she opened the door, Beaken put the car in reverse. The woman was knocked to the ground by the door.
"At that point, our victim opened the door to the driver's side. Mr. Beaken then took the vehicle, engaged it in reverse," said Trooper Steve Limani, of Pennsylvania State Police. "The driver's door caught our victim, dragged her underneath the vehicle where she was dragged across the parking lot for about 25 to 30 feet."
According to police, Beaken then switched gears.
"Mr. Beaken then engaged the car in drive and had it drive forward, which subsequently drove over her legs," said Trooper Limani.
Beaken stopped the car and tried to pull the bleeding victim from under the vehicle and put her back in it but he didn't get far. Onlookers came to Humbart's rescue.
"They were able to detain him by just their physical nature of being around the car and trying to attend to our victim. It gave us time to get down to the scene and make an arrest," Trooper Limani said.
She was taken to Frick Hospital to be treated for a laceration to the head, which required three staples. She also suffered road rash to her back and other minor injuries.
While being searched by police, Beaken was found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana.
He is now in the Westmoreland County Jail on multiple counts, including felony aggravated assault.
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