LIBERTY BOROUGH, PA — A man faces multiple charges after allegedly fighting with police officers and attempting to grab an officer’s firearm following a domestic dispute.
The Allegheny County Police Department’s Homicide Unit was requested to assist with an investigation on April 13 after a suspect was taken into custody and flown to an area hospital.
Detectives determined the incident began as a domestic dispute at a residence in the 3300 block of Liberty Way in Liberty Borough on April 12.
The suspect, Matthew Bertges, 28, of Liberty Borough, fled the home in a vehicle before police arrived and subsequently crashed the vehicle in the 80 block of Calhoun Road.
Responding officers from Lincoln Borough police located Bertges on foot a short time later and attempted to take him into custody.
Bertges began to fight with the officer and attempted to grab the officer’s firearm, according to police.
An assisting officer from Liberty Borough arrived on scene, and the altercation continued with Bertges striking one of the officers in the face with a handcuff that was looped around his fist.
Officers used physical force and deployed a Taser in an attempt to subdue Bertges, but both had no effect.
Assisting officers arrived a short time later and Bertges was taken into custody.
Initial toxicology screens showed Bertges had opiates, marijuana and alcohol in his system at the time of the incident.
Bertges is facing multiple charges including aggravated assault, disarming a law enforcement officer, robbery, strangulation and criminal mischief.
He was transported to the Allegheny County Jail pending preliminary arraignment.
