BUFFALO TWP — State police have an arrest warrant out for a man whom they say fled a DUI checkpoint and nearly struck an officer late Saturday.

The suspect, Terrell E. Leonard, 26, of New Kensington, Westmoreland County, a short time later crashed his minivan into a concrete barrier and ran away, police said. Police allegedly found crack cocaine in the vehicle.

District Judge Bill O'Donnell issued the felony warrant Sunday for Leonard.

Police said that about 11:45 p.m., a motorist drove up in a Dodge Caravan while troopers at the Kittanning station were conducting a sobriety checkpoint on Route 28 northbound near exit 17 in Buffalo Township.

The driver, later identified as Leonard, did not have a license. A trooper told him to pull over to the side of the road, police said.

Leonard traveled onto the shoulder but never stopped. Instead, police said, he drove slowly and went around a vehicle in front of him. He was ordered to stop.

Another officer, Cpl. Christopher Robbins, approached the van and tried to get the suspect to stop.

“(Leonard) then fled,” according to charging documents, “causing Cpl. Robbins to take evasive maneuvers to avoid being struck by the vehicle.”

With troopers in pursuit, Leonard traveled north on Route 28 before taking the exit 17 off-ramp. He subsequently crashed, got out of the van and made his getaway.

Police said they looked in the van and noticed a plastic bag containing suspected crack. They also found Leonard's identification in the vehicle.

He is charged in the warrant with aggravated assault, a felony. He also is charged with possession of a controlled substance, simple assault, reckless endangerment, fleeing or attempting to elude police and driving with a suspended license-DUI related, all misdemeanors.

Additionally, he is charged with three traffic violations.