Update: Police Identify Suspect in Route 65 Chase, Crash

UPDATE: Allegheny County Police have identified the suspect involved in an early morning police chase that started Tuesday on Route 65 in Avalon.

Police said Jonathan Schaeffer, 23, of Crafton, has been charged with firearms violations, fleeing police, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and careless driving. 

Schaeffer is currently in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting arraignment.

According to Allegheny County Police, at about 3:40 a.m., the Avalon police department was dispatched to the BP gas station on Ohio River Boulevard to investigate a suspicious person.

When they arrived, police said the officers found a male in a car next to a gas pump. The officers approached him and as they were talking to him he started to move the car, which made the officers fear for their safety police said. One officer fired at the car twice, police said, adding that no one was struck.
 
Police said Schaeffer fled the area northbound on Route 65. Avalon police began chasing him and notifying surrounding municipalities. The two officers crashed their police car near the intersection of Route 65 and Brighton Road while Schaeffer’s vehicle continued on, eventually crashing on the ramp to Interstate 79 south.  He was arrested after a brief foot chase.

Police said the two Avalon officers, who haven’t been identified, did not suffer any serious injuries but they have been admitted to a Pittsburgh hospital.  Schaffer was taken to and was treated and released.
 
Police said officers found a handgun in Schaffer’s vehicle.

As reported previously:

Sewickley-area commuters who rely on heavily traveled Ohio River Boulevard should avoid it during this morning's rush hour due to a police chase and crash that has closed the highway in Avalon and Ben Avon.

Route 65 is closed between Camp Horne Road and Brighton Road, according to police. The suggested detour is Camp Horne Road and the Parkway North/Interstate 279 North. Traffic is congested in the area, according to KDKA-TV.

The chase began around 3 a.m. at a gas station in Bellevue and involved gunshots when the vehicle briefly dragged an officer who attempted to stop it, according to KDKA. 

Two Avalon police officers were injured, and arrested one motorist, the television station reported.

While in pursuit, Avalon police wrecked ther car and  picked up the chase, local police reported. Police said the driver then wrecked his vehicle into a concrete wall near Interstate 79 and was caught after a short foot chase. 

also responded along with , and police. Sewickley police said borough officers provided security at , where the suspect was transported after the chase. 

The suspect, who has not been named, has been released from the hospital.