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Officer injured, suspect shot in car chase through South Hills

BALDWIN, Pa. — A man was arrested for allegedly leading police on a wild chase through the South Hills Wednesday afternoon.

According to investigators, police were attempting to serve a warrant on a woman, later identified as Amy Calabrese, at a home on Boni Drive in Baldwin just before 1 p.m.

Police said Calabrese was wanted for trying to sell a bicycle that her boyfriend, Richard Desabetino, allegedly stole.

Desabetino was in the back of the home, and when officers told him to stay put, he got in a car and drove away.

"He just wasn't thinking at all.  He just spaced and lost it," said Calabrese.

According to police, the 33-year-old man hit an officer with the vehicle.  The officer was hit twice and dragged, police said.

Police said they fired on Desabetino after he hit the officer.

Desabetino abandoned the vehicle on Corrigan Drive in South Park and stole a vehicle that he crashed at the intersection of Baptist and Higbee, police said.

Police said Desabetino carjacked a third vehicle with someone inside.  Police said the person inside the vehicle was not hurt.

Desabetino eventually crashed Grandview Farms, where police said they exchanged gunfire one final time.  Desabetino was shot and taken into custody.

"I saw a fellow on the ground and guns," witness Shirley Richter said.

One of the bullets hit a nearby home.

"My son called me and said it was like a war zone out there. Gunshots were going off so he ran down into the basement," the homeowner said.

"The actor is the hospital being treated for his wound.  He was shot one time," said Charles Moffatt of Allegheny County Police.

The officer who was hit is recovering Thursday at UPMC Mercy Hospital. Officials said he's doing OK.

Desabetino is charged with receiving stolen property and conspiracy.

WPXI

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