MONROEVILLE, Pa.,None — A man accused of hiding in a Monroeville building for several hours following a police chase that started in Penn Hills last week will go to trial.
VIDEO: Chase Suspect Arrested After Hiding In Monroeville Building
Penn Hill police said Ryan Gomez, 24, threatened the pregnant mother of his child with a gun and assaulted her. The chief said the woman had a protection from abuse order against Gomez.
A judge dismissed most of the charges related to the alleged beating when Gomez's girlfriend decided not to testify against him earlier this week.
Gomez will go to trial on charges of fleeing and eluding, theft and several traffic violations.
"We waived some of the charges off to court and see what the prosecution has as far as evidence, once we get to that level," said defense attorney Casey White. "We're at a very early stage here. We look forward to presenting a defense."
Investigators said when the woman ran to a neighbor's home to call 911, Gomez took her keys and pointed a gun at her while standing in the roadway.
Police said when they arrived, Gomez took her black sport utility vehicle and a chase began.
According to the criminal complaints in Monroeville and Pittsburgh, police said when they spotted Gomez, he sped off on the Parkway East headed toward Monroeville.
Pittsburgh police picked up the chase by vehicle and then by foot.
During the chase, a handgun was thrown from the SUV along the Parkway East, police said. The suspect exited the left the SUV in Monroeville and fled on foot near Ivanhoe Drive.
Witnesses said the driver was weaving in and out of traffic while trying to elude police along the Parkway.
Police surrounded a building behind the Miracle Mile Shopping Center, where they said Gomez hid for at least two hours. He was taken into custody a few hours later.
Police said Gomez was hiding in the rafters in the second floor of the building.
"Eventually, we had to use OC spray. It's not true tear gas, but OC pepper spray, in order for him to come out," said Monroeville Police Chief Doug Cole.
According to the Cole, Gomez has a lengthy criminal past.
Hundreds of people were evacuated from the Corporate One building 2 while Gomez hid from police, investigators said.
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