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Video: Man tries to grab Pa. officer’s gun from holster

The officer fought the man until backup arrived

Disarmofficer.jpg

By Tony Raap
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

BUTLER, Pa. — Five police officers had to subdue a man who tried to grab a Butler officer’s gun from her holster.

A preliminary hearing for Matthew Fleeger, 36, of Butler on aggravated assault, disarming a law enforcement officer and other charges is scheduled for Monday.

Fleeger went after Officer Cheryl Litz’s gun while she was standing inside a Marathon convenience store Saturday afternoon in Butler, Butler Mayor Tom Donaldson said.

Litz fought him off until backup arrived.

“(Litz) showed great restraint,” Donaldson said.

Litz tried to use her Taser, but Fleeger wore a heavy coat, so the probes from her stun gun “didn’t get into the skin,” Donaldson said.

The incident was captured on the store’s surveillance video.

“Nobody got hurt, and nobody had to use deadly force,” he said.

Fleeger remained jailed Wednesday, unable to post a $50,000 bail. Court records do not list an attorney for him.

Copyright 2015 The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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