Clairton man charged in shooting of Monroeville officer

A Clairton man is charged with attempted homicide and other crimes in connection with the shooting of a Monroe­ville police officer during a police chase that ended with a crash in Allegheny Township.

Bruce Alvarado, 38, remains in the Westmoreland County jail after being denied bail Saturday.

Monroeville police Chief Doug Cole confirmed that the wounded officer, who was airlifted to a Pittsburgh-area hospital for treatment after the Friday night chase, was released from the hospital on Saturday and is recovering at home.

“He’s doing well, but he’s still under a doctor’s care,” Cole said.

Cole declined to name the officer, deferring to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office to release information about the case.

In a news release Saturday, the Westmoreland District Attorney’s Office said Alvarado led multiple police departments on a chase Friday evening from Turtle Creek before being boxed at the roundabout on Route 356 near Hyde Park Road in Allegheny Township.

A Pitcairn officer attempted to stop the stolen Jeep with two people inside, with the driver later identified as Alvarado.

The pursuit traveled through Monroeville and North Versailles among other communities with speeds up to 90 mph, the DA’s office reported. The chase took place on Route 22, Route 66 and finally onto Route 356 where Alvarado crashed into another vehicle.

After the car was surrounded, police said, “the driver did not comply with commands to exit the vehicle. Officers forced the driver’s door open and observed Alvarado with a gun and a female in the passenger’s seat.”

Alvarado fired multiple shots from a 9 mm handgun into a marked Monroeville police cruiser, striking the Monroeville officer in the arm and leg.

The DA office’s statement said the female passenger told investigators Alvarado had said during the chase “he would not stop and would ‘blow a cop’s head off.’”

According to court documents, she told investigators that Alvarado was holding her by the hair with one hand and had his other hand on the gun when the police chase came to an end.

The woman was not identified; it was unclear if she will face charges.

In addition to the attempted homicide charge, Alvarado is also accused of assault of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, firearms not to be carried without a license, receiving stolen property, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer and unlawful restraint.