Aug 4, 2015 3 min read

Life on the lam lasted less than three hours for an Union Township man taken into custody about noon Tuesday along with his passenger after Southwest Regional police learned the two were wanted in Allegheny County on outstanding bench warrants during a traffic stop on Route 837.

Jeffrey Dezardo, 23, was in the back of a police cruiser while officers were doing an inventory of his vehicle when he managed to escape while still wearing handcuffs. Jodie Rebar, 23, of South Park, was in a second cruiser.

Southwest police Chief John Dale Hartman said late Tuesday afternoon it was still unclear how Dezardo managed to escape. Hartman said the windows in the cruiser were partially down because of the heat, adding the air conditioning also was on in the vehicle.

Southwest police were doing traffic enforcement on Route 837 near the New Eagle line when the car driven by Dezardo was stopped for a violation.

“The officer got confirmation that they were both wanted on warrants,” Hartman said. “The two were put in the cruisers, and we were in the process of doing an inventory on his vehicle before impounding it when he escaped.”

“He got out of the car and beat feet,” the chief added. “He made no attempt to secure her freedom.”

The search was then on for Dezardo with Southwest police joined by officers from Carroll Township and Monongahela joined by K-9 officers from California and McKeesport combing the area. State police helicopter was in the air, assisting in the search.

“We were getting all sorts of tips that he was along the river and that he had gotten a ride. He knows the area, being from around there,” Hartman said. “A Monongahela street department worker saw Dezardo get into a trailer on Third Avenue in Monongahela. A Monongahela police officer went there and found him about 2:30 p.m. He was only about a half-mile from where he escaped.”

Dezardo was not wearing the handcuffs he was wearing at the time of his escape. He reportedly told police that he stepped on them to get them off, but police will investigate to determine if he received any assistance during his time on the run.

Hartman said drug paraphernalia like spoons and needles were found in the car along with what appears to be new tools. He said a more extensive search will be done on Dezardo’s vehicle.

Dezardo and Rebar were placed in Washington County jail on the outstanding warrants. Hartman said Dezardo faces additional charges, including escape.