Man falls from apartment window trying to escape deputies

ADAMSBURG, Pa. — A man wanted for skipping his trial on assault charges is facing additional charges for trying to escape sheriff’s deputies who attempted to take him into custody.

According to a criminal complaint, deputies went to an apartment on Main Street in Adamsburg on Monday to execute an arrest warrant for Jason Millward, 24.

RAW: Suspect tries to escape out of window

After deputies knocked on the apartment door for several minutes, a woman identified as Millward’s girlfriend opened it. Deputies who were at the door heard movement in a back bedroom of the apartment. The complaint said that the bedroom door was locked, but the deputies forced it open and found Millward, who deputies said was trying to escape through the window.

According to the complaint, two deputies grabbed Millward’s arms and attempted to pull him back through the window. He told deputies that he had a gun in his pocket, but the only clothing he was wearing was underwear.

Construction workers who were in the area brought over a ladder, but when they put it up to the window, Millward kicked it away, the complaint said.

“The defendant was really unwilling to use the ladder at first. He was yelling things like 'shoot me, kill me,'" said Johnathan Held, the Westmoreland County sheriff. “As you can hear in the video, my deputies were yelling, ‘Just get on the ladder.’ That's the easiest way to solve the whole situation.”

The deputies eventually lost their grip and Millward fell, landing on a Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office corporal.

One of the construction workers captured the incident on cellphone video.

The corporal was treated for a minor head and neck injury and released. Held said he has a headache, but is lucky he’s going to be OK.

Millward was checked out by paramedics but was not injured. He is currently in the Allegheny County Jail, where he was accused of assaulting a sheriff’s deputy last year.

He is facing additional charges of aggravated assault, flight to avoid apprehension/trial/punishment and resisting arrest/other law enforcement.

Cox Media Group