Jeffrey Hay Sr.

An argument that started at a Butler shopping plaza Wednesday turned into a vehicular chase and ended in back of the city police station where a man deliberately rammed a woman's car, authorities said.

Jeffrey D. Hay Sr., 55, of Butler is accused of forcing the victim's vehicle down a small embankment and into a building that houses an auto repair shop.

Surveillance cameras around the station captured part of the incident on video, said police Deputy Chief David Adam.

No one was injured, and police a short time later arrested Hay at his home.

He is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and driving with a suspended license.

He is free on $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 16.

The initial call to police came in around 9 a.m. for two people arguing in the parking lot at Pullman Square.

Not long after, police said, another caller reported the pair had driven away in separate vehicles with a blue Jeep chasing after a blue sedan.

Police believe Hay was in the Jeep and Angela Weber, 27, of Fairview Township was in the car. They knew one another before the incident, police said.

Weber later told investigators the defendant tried to block her in on Fifth Avenue, hitting her car's rear bumper with his Jeep. She got away and drove to the police station for help.

Hay once more tried to block her in and again struck her car. He tried to open her door but Weber drove down a gravel alley in back of the station at 200 W. New Castle St.

“Hay again gave chase,” according to a police affidavit, “and struck Weber's vehicle again, causing it to go down a bank and strike a building.”'

The car hit the Bandi's Transmission building. The suspect got out and tried one more time to get into Weber's car before he drove away.

Adam said the department's surveillance footage corroborated portions of Weber's account.