Not wearing a seat belt leads to New Kensington man's arrest on 4-year-old warrant

A New Kensington man wanted for breaking into his then ex-girlfriend’s home four years ago was arrested Tuesday after he was seen riding in a vehicle without wearing a seat belt, according to court records.

Arnold police charged Robert James Dorsey, 60, with three felony counts of aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, terroristic threats and a drug offense after, police say, he fought with officers at the scene of the traffic stop Tuesday and then at the New Kensington police station.

An Arnold officer stopped the vehicle in which Dorsey was riding after the woman driving it didn’t stop at a stop sign at Leishman and Murray avenues around 1:25 a.m., according to a criminal complaint.

The driver cooperated with police, but Dorsey refused to provide identification, the complaint states.

After giving his name and date of birth, officers learned Dorsey was wanted on a Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office warrant.

In July 2021, Arnold police charged Dorsey with prohibited possession of a firearm, flight to avoid apprehension and criminal mischief.

According to a criminal complaint in that case, a woman told police Dorsey was carrying a gun when he tried to break into her home, eventually shattering a window.

Officers were unable to find Dorsey, the complaint states. In addition to him being a felon not allowed to possess a gun, police said he was then wanted on a sheriff’s warrant for failing to appear on a vehicle theft charge.

At the traffic stop Tuesday, when officers tried to handcuff Dorsey, he got back into the car and told two officers that they were going to die, the complaint states.

Dorsey resisted being removed from the vehicle and swung a fist at the two officers, according to the complaint. After another officer arrived, Dorsey moved farther back into the vehicle and said, “We are going to have to fight,” and again said officers were going to die, according to the complaint.

Two attempts to tase Dorsey did not work, the complaint states. An officer used a baton on Dorsey after Dorsey allegedly kicked the officer in a leg.

Dorsey was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody after two more officers arrived, according to the complaint.

A suspected crack pipe fell out of his pocket, police said.

At the New Kensington police station, Dorsey complained of chest pain and refused to stand up on his own. Medics found he was not injured, the complaint states.

After his handcuffs were removed, Dorsey refused to stand up to walk back into a cell, according to the complaint. When officers stood him up, police said, he grabbed an officer’s hand and refused to let go.

Another fight ensued during which Dorsey bit an officer’s finger, the complaint states.

Dorsey was taken to AHN Harmar Neighborhood Hospital to be checked before being jailed.

He was arraigned Tuesday before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. He was being held in the Westmoreland County jail on $50,000 bail. His preliminary hearing before Pallone is scheduled for March 6.