Police chase ends with suspect's car in Forest Hills pool

A man who flashed a weapon at Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies Wednesday was arrested Thursday after a second police chase ended with his vehicle sinking in a Forest Hill swimming pool, authorities said.

The suspect, Jeremy Neal, 31, was arrested after a chase that began in the city, went onto the Parkway East before ending at the pool off the Ardmore Boulevard exit, the sheriff’s department said.

Neal, who lists addresses in Braddock and Pittsburgh’s West End, was wanted after he brandished a silver handgun shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday as deputies approached his vehicle on East Carson Street on the South Side, officials said. Deputies responding to “suspicious activity” said they learned he was wanted by Braddock police for a firearms violation and terroristic threats.

Neal would not leave the vehicle when deputies attempted to pull him out, the complaint said. One of the deputies put his service revolver to Neal’s head and Neal dropped his handgun in the backseat, then tried to retrieve it, according to the criminal complaint.

Neal fought attempts to pull him out of the car, then sped away from the scene and hit a construction trailer and building, authorities said. He almost hit two construction workers on East Carson Street, between 9th and 7th streets, according to the criminal complaint.

Deputies searched the area without finding him.

On Thursday, another pursuit of Neal began in Pittsburgh, involving Pittsburgh police. The chase continued on the Parkway East and ended when the vehicle sank into the swimming pool. Sheriff’s spokesman Mike Manko said additional details about the pursuit were not available Thursday.

Neal was arrested.

He is charged with nine counts of aggravated assault on deputies and construction workers; illegal possession of a gun, fleeing apprehension, resisting arrest and seven counts of endangering another person.