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Police: Ellwood City man leads officers on 2-state chase

METHUEN, Mass. — An Ellwood City man accused of leading police on a two-state chase early Saturday morning was arrested in Massachusetts.

A Salem, N.H., police officer tried to arrest 51-year-old Robert Zygarowski in a traffic stop. When he resisted, the officer shocked him with a stun gun.

According to the police report, Zygarowski pulled out the weapon's barbs, assaulted the officer, then jumped in his car and sped away, beginning a chase that ended when his tire blew in Lawrence, Mass.

When the officer ordered Zygarowski and two others out of the car, he charged the officer and fled in the marked cruiser, authorities said.

A short time later, a man matching Zygarowski's description walked into a gas station in Methuen, Mass., said he had guns and was going to shoot officers, prompting the clerk to call police, authorities said.

Police surrounded the area and found Zygarowski walking on a nearby trail, where he was arrested after a brief scuffle.

Zygarowski was charged with assault, resisting arrest and other offenses.  He is to be arraigned on Monday, police said.

“He's not a bad guy. He just needs help, and I hope he gets it,” said Mark Ondrusek, 50, of Beaver Falls, who is married to Zygarowski's ex-wife.

Zygarowski has a criminal record in Western Pennsylvania dating to at least the mid-1990s.

The Associated Press and Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.

WPXI

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