A Chicora man is facing charges after police said he stole a vehicle and assaulted the owner when he tried to stop him from taking it.

Alan Connor McDonald, 33, was charged with felony robbery of a motor vehicle and aggravated assault, misdemeanor reckless endangerment and loitering and prowling at night, and summary counts of accident involving damage to an unattended vehicle and driving with a suspended license.

According to Butler police, the owner of the vehicle was delivering newspapers at the Arbors apartment complex on Lincoln Avenue past midnight on Wednesday, July 22, when he spotted McDonald walking outside the building.

Police said the owner saw McDonald enter his vehicle while the keys were still in the ignition. He told police he ran back to his vehicle and attempted to pull McDonald out of the seat, but he pressed on the accelerator.

According to police, he held on to McDonald and was dragged on the pavement before McDonald hit another vehicle and accelerated toward Monroe Street. The vehicle owner told police he lost his hold and fell into the street.

Police said the vehicle owner was left with abrasions to both knees, a laceration on his eyebrow and heavy bruising to his left elbow and triceps.

The vehicle was reported stolen and state police were notified of the vehicle Thursday. State police encountered the vehicle with McDonald driving Thursday, where he was arrested and allegedly confessed to stealing the vehicle.

McDonald’s driver’s license was also expired at the time, police said.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 3 before District Judge William Fullerton. He is being held in Butler County Prison with bail set at $75,000.