Butler Co. Man Charged With Attempting To Disarm Officer In Gas Station
BUTLER (KDKA) – A Butler County man is facing charges for allegedly trying to disarm a female police officer over the weekend.
The incident happened inside the Marathon gas station on Main Street in Butler around 2 p.m. The officer was there on an unrelated call, and incident was caught on surveillance video.
Matthew Fleeger, 36, of Butler, is accused of approaching the officer from behind and pulled at her gun. The officer pushed him away, only to have him make at least two more attempts at the gun.
"The gentleman came up and attempted to disarm her, grab a hold of her service weapon off her belt," said Capt. David Dalcamo, of Butler City Police. "She was able to pull away from him."
The officer ordered Fleeger to get on the ground and he refused to comply. She deployed her Taser, but Fleeger's thick coat prevented it from being effective.
Fleeger fled the store on foot, but the officer caught up to him and got him on the ground. She had previously called for backup, which arrived quickly.
"Guy ran out with the cop chasing him," said David Boskin, a witness. "It was a female cop, threw him to the ground, he kept screaming, 'Shoot me, shoot me.'"
Watch the surveillance video here:
A second officer used his Taser, which also had no effect.
Police say Fleeger was combative, struggling and fighting with them, even spitting. Police say it took five officers to get him in handcuffs and into their custody.
"It's our understanding that he has some mental health concerns. In that he was attempting to take his own life or have the officer take his life for him," said Capt. Dalcamo. "The officer showed great restraint in the way she conducted herself that day. I think, all in all, it ended very well."
Fleeger is facing a list of charges including aggravated assault, resisting arrest and attempting to disarm a police officer.
He is being held in the Butler County Jail on $50,000 bail.
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