Police: Man pepper-sprayed Pittsburgh Water crew, pulled gun, then ran over worker
PITTSBURGH —
A contracted Pittsburgh Water worker was seriously injured in the Troy Hill neighborhood after a man hit him with a car during a series of violent attacks, police said.
Authorities said 33-year-old Matthew Dougherty was assaulting his girlfriend at a home on Lowrie Street before confronting a nearby road crew working on a water main replacement project.
SEE DOUGHERTY BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ABOVE.
Investigators said Dougherty threatened the road crew with a gun, pepper-sprayed and punched the female worker, and hit her husband, who is also a worker, with his car.
A worker who was jackhammering at the scene described the encounter, saying Dougherty pointed a gun at him.
“The neighbor came over yelling, asking for a permit. I told him we didn’t need a permit to talk to the homeowner. He proceeded to whip out a gun, put it in my face, asking for a permit again. I was able to talk him down. He left the breezeway from the rear end to the front and then assaulted his girlfriend and ran over the construction worker in a matter of 35 minutes. I mean, 35 seconds,” the worker said.
Witnesses at the scene said the injured construction worker was alert, and police confirmed he was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
The victim’s wife, who police said Dougherty punched and pepper-sprayed, refused treatment so she could accompany her husband to the hospital.
Officers found Dougherty less than an hour later, just one block away.
Police confirmed his identity with Pittsburgh Action News 4 as he was taken into custody.