Dormont Sgt. Injured During New Year's Arrest

A Dormont police officer was injured while arresting a man who was wanted by three local police departments early on New Year’s Day.

Castle Shannon police issued a warrant for Jerome Coulehan, 52, of Castle Shannon, following a domestic incident. According to the police report, Coulehan had left the scene of the incident and was driving a car he did not have permission to drive.

Police said Coulehan was involved in a car accident in Mt. Lebanon before driving to a home in the 1500 block of Dormont Avenue, where he was arrested by Dormont police just before 6 a.m.

During the arrest, police said, Coulehan tried to drive away from the officers, and hit Sgt. Michael Bisignani with his car in the process, pinning Bisignani’s hand between the car and a fence on the property. As of Friday, Bisignani was still on leave with the injury.

Police said Coulehan also threatened the officers, telling them he owned numerous firearms and would come back to “target shoot” at the police. Officers had to tase Coulehan in order to subdue and arrest him, according to the report.

Coulehan was charged with fleeing and alluding police; driving with a suspended license; driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance; making terroristic threats; and aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence.

He is being held in Allegheny County Jail on a $50,000 straight bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. before Judge Blaise P. Larotonda.

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