A McKeesport man's skirmish with a city police officer in Crawford Village ended without serious injuries when the suspect's gun discharged after falling down a short flight of steps.

Derrick McClurkin, 30, was arrested on gun and drug charges. The incident occurred at about 1 p.m. Thursday near Building 59.

It was one of two arrests police made that day that netted firearms and related charges.

In a separate incident about an hour later, police arrested a 17-year-old boy on Jenny Lind Street on a charge of illegal possession of a loaded handgun.

In the Crawford Village incident, police encountered McClurkin when he was leaving Building 54. Police were conducting a walkthrough of the area because of a high rate of drug trafficking and trespassing, according to police reports.

Police said McClurkin put his hands in his pockets and began walking toward the officer, who asked him how he was doing. McClurkin asked the officer if he was a cop, then moved his pocketed hands toward his waistband, police said.

Police said McClurkin complied with a command to take his hands out of his pockets, removing with them a cellphone and small speaker. Police said McClurkin, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, told them he lived in the housing complex but did not have identification on him.

When McClurkin told police he would get his identification from his apartment, the officer told him he was not free to go and attempted to restrain him. A struggle ensued at the top of an outdoor staircase.

Police reports indicate the officer felt a firearm tucked under McClurkin's waistband and clamped down on McClurkin's waist to keep him from gaining control of the weapon.

The struggle continued down the steps and over stair railings. The officer reported he felt his grip on McClurkin loosen so he pushed the suspect, who fell backward. After McClurkin fell, the officer reported he heard the gun hit the concrete and fire. The officer drew his weapon and held McClurkin at gunpoint until other officers arrived, according to police reports.

There is no evidence anyone or anything was hit by the errant bullet, according to police.

McKeesport police Chief Bryan Washowich said everyone near the scene is lucky.

“No one was hit, thank God,” Washowich said. He credited the arresting officer's training and quick thinking for bringing the situation under control without anyone being seriously injured. “He recognized the threat and responded. Physically, he kept the suspect under control and unable to grab the weapon.”

Police recovered 17 stamp bags of heroin, which police allege McClurkin had hidden between his buttocks. McClurkin's weapon was a .45-caliber automatic pistol, according to police.

McClurkin is charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault of a police officer, reckless endangerment of another person, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of heroin and possession with intent to deliver.

McClurkin is being held in Allegheny County Jail on $40,000 bail. His preliminary hearing in McKeesport is set for Nov. 3.

The arrest of the 17-year-old occurred in the 2800 block of Jenny Lind Street.

Washowich said that arrest stemmed from an incident in the area two days earlier. He said police learned the boy was back in the area and were able to arrest him without incident on a porch at about 2:03 p.m.

The teen is being charged as a juvenile.

Eric Slagle is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1966, or eslagle@tribweb.com.

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