Clairton man headed to court on charges of shooting Monroeville police officer in Allegheny Township
A Clairton man on Wednesday waived to court charges of attempted homicide after being accused of shooting a Monroeville police officer during a November car chase through Allegheny Township.
Bruce Alvarado, 39, of Toman Avenue was scheduled for a preliminary hearing at Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec’s office for charges that also include assault of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, receiving stolen property, fleeing, and prohibited possession of a firearm.
He is accused of twice shooting a Monroeville officer, once in the arm and once in the leg, at the end of a chase Nov. 10.
Inside the courtroom Wednesday, there was a heavy police presence with more than a dozen Monroeville officers filling the waiting room.
Alvarado’s attorney, Ken Noga, declined to comment.
“We have nothing to add for today’s purposes,” Noga said.
Alvarado is accused of leading police on a chase from Turtle Creek into Allegheny Township around 7 p.m. Nov. 10.
Pitcairn officers initiated the chase when they tried to stop Alvarado, who they said was driving a stolen Jeep.
A woman in the passenger’s seat was not identified; it was unclear whether she will face charges.
Alvarado refused to stop the Jeep and fled through various communities. He was pursued by officers from Monroeville, Pitcairn, North Versailles and the state police.
The chase reached Route 66, where Allegheny Township officers deployed Stop Sticks tire deflators near Reservoir Road. But Alvarado continued on Route 356 near Hyde Park Road, where police from multiple agencies were able to box in his vehicle.
Officers approached the Jeep and forced open the driver’s door. They saw Alvarado with a gun, according to court documents.
Prior to Alvarado being removed from the vehicle, he fired multiple shots from a 9 mm handgun, according to police.
Two of the shots struck a Monroeville officer, who was treated at a hospital; he is recovering at home.
Alvarado remains in the Westmoreland County jail in Hempfield. Formal arraignment is scheduled Jan. 24 in Westmoreland County Court.
Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.
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