A West Newton man was arrested after a woman reported she was dragged by his car and injured Thursday during a domestic argument that went on for 40 miles.
Cornell J.T. Dirico, 26, was arrested by Rostraver Police outside his residence in the 200 block of West Main Street at about 10 a.m., shortly after his girlfriend was found injured along Route 136 in Rostraver. West Newton Police assisted with Dirico’s arrest.
Officer Stephen Sholtis alleges in court documents that Dirico had picked up his girlfriend in Bridgeville, Allegheny County, about 40 miles from West Newton, about 9 a.m.
“During the approximately 40-mile drive Dirico and (the woman) were continuously arguing,” Sholtis wrote. “Dirico stopped his vehicle on three occasions and attempted to remove the victim from the vehicle.”
Multiple witnesses reportedly saw the incidents, police reported.
When Dirico, who recently lived in Melrose, Mass., stopped his vehicle at 998 Route 136, “(the woman) ran to the rear of the vehicle where she grabbed the rear wiper blade and attempted to break it,” Sholtis said.
Sholtis said Dirico accelerated, but the woman’s hand became stuck, causing her to be dragged more than 10 feet before falling onto the highway pavement.
The woman suffered multiple bruises and cuts and also complained of pain to her ribs and midsection, police said.
Dirico is charged with reckless endangerment. He was arraigned before District Judge Wayne Vlasic in Monessen and released after posting $2,500 bond. He faces a preliminary hearing April 27 before Rostraver District Judge Charles Christner.
