Latrobe man jailed in Indiana County after being accused of dragging trooper with his car

A Latrobe man is in the Indiana County Jail after being accused of dragging a state policeman with his car as troopers responded to a harassment complaint, according to court papers.

Matthew A. Rebar, 29, was arrested after an incident in White Township, just outside of Indiana Borough, where state police allege he had sent harassing messages via social media to a woman.

Troopers said in court papers that the pair had been messaging on social media and Rebar had texted the woman, informing her he learned where she lived and he was driving to her apartment. The woman called police.

When troopers responded about 4:30 p.m. Friday, they found Rebar parked outside in his 2010 Honda Civic with the engine running, according to court papers filed by Trooper Hayden Blough. They asked him to shut off his car so they could speak with him.

After Rebar ignored the request, a trooper reached inside the vehicle through an open window to turn it off, but Rebar put the car in gear and drove away. Blough said the trooper was dragged about 30 feet before he freed himself.

The trooper suffered a minor injury, Blough reported.

Rebar surrendered after a brief pursuit into Indiana Borough, according to court records.

He was arraigned Saturday on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, flight to avoid apprehension, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, reckless driving and resisting arrest. He was ordered held in the county jail on $200,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled March 9.

According to online dockets, Rebar, formerly of Connellsville, served a 9-t0-23 month sentence in Fayette County after he pleaded guilty to charges of harassment and simple assault filed in 2018 by state police in connection with an incident in Dunbar Township.