Sept. 05--Allegheny County police will review whether a pair of Avalon officers reacted appropriately early Tuesday, when one of them opened fire on a fleeing BMW in an incident that touched off a high-speed chase and two separate wrecks, borough manager Harry Dilmore said.
Officers Sean Kirley, 28, and Raymond Bouyer, 34, went to the BP gas station on Ohio River Boulevard about 3:40 a.m. after an attendant reported a suspicious person there.
They found Jonathan Schaeffer, 23, of Crafton inside a BMW near a gas pump. Officer Kirley, who approached on the passenger side, told detectives he could smell marijuana when Mr. Schaeffer rolled down his window and handed him his ID, according to a criminal complaint. Officer Kirley said he ordered Mr. Schaeffer to put the car in park and get out. But instead of complying, the officer said, Mr. Schaeffer told him "just let me go home" and sped away from the gas station. Officer Kirley said he then drew his gun and fired twice because he saw Officer Bouyer leaning into the driver's side window and believed he was being dragged, police said. The back window was shattered, but no one was struck.
Officer Kirley feared for his life when he fired the shots, county police Lt. Andrew Schurman said.
Mr. Dilmore said the borough has policies pertaining to police pursuits, including rules pertaining to when it is appropriate for an officer to open fire, though he was not familiar enough with them to elaborate Tuesday night. County police, he added, will determine whether the officer's use of force was justified.
"There will be a lot of questions asked," Mr. Dilmore said. Investigators, he added, will determine whether the officers should have pursued Mr. Schaeffer, who was headed north on Ohio River Boulevard when he crashed his car as he tried to get onto Interstate 79 south. Ohio Township police officers who were following discovered Mr. Schaeffer hiding in the nearby shrubs. Mr. Dilmore said he heard reports that indicated Mr. Schaeffer had reached speeds of between 80 and 100 miles per hour, though the speed remains under investigation.
Officers Kirley and Bouyer lost control of their new Crown Victoria and wrecked in the 7200 block of Ohio River Boulevard. Their cruiser struck a tree and hung nose-down over a hillside. Both were treated and released from Allegheny General Hospital. Officer Kirley has worked full-time for the borough for nearly two years; Officer Bouyer joined part time about six months ago.
"They were really lucky," Mr. Dilmore said. "If they were cats, they'd have eight [lives] left."
Mr. Schaeffer was treated for his injuries at Heritage Valley Hospital. Upon his release, he told county detectives that he took Ecstasy, smoked marijuana and drank at an Avalon bar with a friend before stopping at the gas station, the criminal complaint says. He was sending his girlfriend text messages when the officers knocked on his window.
He told police "he was scared and did not want to go to jail, so he attempted to flee" the gas station when the officers started shooting at him. He said he heard one or two shots, one of which blew out his back window, the complaint says. In a panic, Mr. Schaeffer said, he took off down Ohio River Boulevard.
He told police he had a Glock pistol that he purchased "from some dude on the street" inside the BMW, which he said belonged to a friend, the complaint says.
Police recovered the gun and charged him with possessing it without a license. Other charges filed against him include fleeing and eluding police, assault on a law enforcement officer, reckless endangerment and careless driving.
Moriah Balingit contributed. Sadie Gurman: [email protected] or 412-263-1878.
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