Waynesburg man allegedly grabs Taser from borough police during arrest
Matthew Gabriel Barth
WAYNESBURG – A Waynesburg man wanted on an arrest warrant was allegedly able to take a Taser from a Waynesburg borough police officer during a traffic stop Saturday.
Matthew Gabriel Barth, 35, of 52 W. Greene St., is being held at the Greene County jail on $25,000 bond on charges related to the struggle with police. Barth was reportedly wanted by parole officers for absconding, according to the criminal complaint.
At 4:14 a.m. Saturday, Officer Adam Fichter pulled over a vehicle on West High Street. The driver, Timothy Ringer, did not have a valid license. The passenger, Barth, first gave police his brother’s identification information until Fichter got his proper identification in his wallet, the complaint states.
At that point, Barth ran from Fichter. Because Barth was reaching into his pockets as he ran, Fichter attempted to use his Taser, which was not successful. When Fichter caught up to Barth, they both fell to the ground.
Fichter tried to holster his Taser and arrest Barth, but Barth was able to grab the stun gun and holster. Fichter knocked the Taser out of Barth’s hand and attempted to restrain him.
As a Greene County Regional police officer was looking over Fichter for injuries, a handcuffed Barth again ran from police. He fell, and Fichter was finally able to arrest him, police said.
Barth was taken Washington Health System-Greene for evaluation and was released with a broken pinkie finger. Fichter was also evaluated at the hospital and released with a finger sprain.
Barth was charged Sunday with attempted aggravated assault, disarming a law enforcement officer, false identification to law enforcement and two counts each of attempted escape, resisting arrest and flight to avoid apprehension. He is set to appear before District Judge Glenn Bates for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. March 22.