A Monessen man that was bitten by a Monessen K-9 officer after leading police on a chase will stand trial on numerous charges.
Jason Stinogle, 31, of 1340 Allison Ave., waived his right to a preliminary hearing Friday on four counts of obedience to traffic control devices, two counts each of recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another, disorderly conduct, reckless driving and speeding, and single counts of flight to avoid apprehension, illegally taunting police animal, resisting arrest, harassment-repeatedly alarm or annoy and fleeing or attempting to elude officers.
He appeared for a preliminary hearing before Senior Magisterial District Judge Bernice McCutcheon, who was sitting in for Magisterial District Judge Joseph Dalfonso.
Stinogle was wearing a yellow prison jumpsuit, signifying that he has been placed in solitary confinement at the Westmoreland County Prison.
Stinogle is accused of threatened the mother of his child, Melinda Sims, and a companion, pounding on her vehicle at the intersection of First Street and Schoonmaker during the alleged April 23 incident.
Sims told police she backed up and drove around Stinogle's vehicle. Stinogle allegedly followed her at a high rate of speed, driving close to her vehicle.
She said Stinogle pulled next to her and then drove into the Eastgate Exxon lot.
Sims told police that after dropping off her friend in Monessen, she went to the Herman Mihalich Memorial boat launch to wait for her friend and to hide from Stinogle, according to the criminal complaint.
Stinogle then allegedly pulled into the boat launch area at a high rate of speed, exited his vehicle and began pounding on her vehicle.
Stinogle began banging on rest room doors at the facility and shouting racial slurs, again threatening to assault Sims and the friend.
Sims said she began to dial 911 on her cell phone, prompting Stinogle to drive to the nearby Rent-A-Center parking lot.
A Comcast employee working in the boat launch area similarly described the incident.
Monessen Officer James Franks located Stinogle and confirmed that Sims had an active protection from abuse order against Stinogle.
Franks told Stinogle he was being placed under arrest for the PFA violation and told him to park in an empty stall in the lot. Stinogle initially agreed, but then took off at high speed in his vehicle, police said.
Monessen K-9 officer Uri caught Stinogle as he tried to flee into his residence after the chase led police from the boat launch through the city's Eastgate section and up Parente Boulevard. Speeds reached over 80 mph, police said.
Officer Aaron Thompson, Uri's handler, subdued Stinogle with a Taser as he struggled with Uri, hitting and trying to pry the dogs jaws open as he bit Stinogle.
Stinogle was transported by police to their station where he was treated by Mon Valley Emergency Medical Service personnel. He was later transported to the hospital.
Stinogle spent five days in the hospital being treated for a “substantial wound,” as police Chief John Mandarino described it.
Upon his hospital release April 29, Stinogle was transported to Dalfonso's office where he was arraigned on the charges.
Dalfonso sent him to the Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $25,000 straight cash bond and an additional $10,000 bond for the PFA violation.
On Wednesday, Stinogle pleaded guilty to the PFA violation. He was sentenced by Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge John Driscoll to six months in prison.
Thompson said the PFA was extended for another three years.
Jeremy Sellew is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at jsellew@tribweb.com or 724-684-2667.
