Derry man accused of assaulting, spitting on woman in attempt to make her crash

North Huntingdon police say a Derry man repeatedly tried to make a woman crash her car as she drove through Westmoreland County on Monday.

Police arrested Jason M. Thomas, 30, on charges of harassment, reckless endangerment, simple assault and making terroristic threats following the alleged 7:30 p.m. assault inside the woman’s vehicle as she drove along Interstate 70, and routes 199 and 30.

Patrolman Matthew Senick said police responded to the parking lot of Wholesale Fireworks for a report of a domestic dispute.

The woman, who lives in the North Huntingdon area, told police the couple had visited Round Hill Park in Elizabeth earlier Monday when they began arguing. As the woman drove home, she said the argument continued, with Thomas punching her and pulling her hair “attempting to make her crash her car in the area of Route 51 and Interstate 70” in Rostraver, according to Senick.

The woman said the assault continued as she drove north on Route 119 to Route 30 on her way to North Huntingdon. At one point, Thomas climbed into the back seat of the car and began throwing items at her while and was kicking the back of her head, the woman told police.

“(The woman) stated Thomas poured a bottle of Gatorade on her head and spat in her face as she was driving,” Senick wrote in court papers.

Police allege that Thomas threatened to kill the woman and stab her with a used syringe he was carrying.

As she drove along Route 30 in North Huntingdon, Thomas began “grabbing her wrists and arms attempting to make her crash” until she was able to pull into the parking lot of the fireworks store and call for help, the woman said.

The woman told police that Thomas stole her wallet and ran off as she called dispatchers, but left his cellphone in the car. He was apprehended later Monday evening and arraigned Tuesday.

Senick said he observed bruises on the woman’s arms and wrists and the right side of her chest.

Thomas has an arrest record in Allegheny, Indiana and Westmoreland counties for multiple retail thefts and burglaries.

An attorney was not listed for Thomas in court documents.

District Judge Wayne Gongaware ordered him held in the county prison after he failed to post $10,000 bond pending a Sept. 30 preliminary hearing.

He also has a preliminary hearing Sept. 23 in before Elizabeth District Judge Beth Mills for drug delivery and possession charges filed by Forward police in August.