David Coleman

Charges were refiled Friday against a Butler man accused of ramming a state trooper's cruiser during a police chase, after the case was dismissed earlier this week when the investigating officer did not show up in court for a preliminary hearing.

David R. Coleman, 50, was again charged with 16 counts — including felony charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, fleeing or attempting to elude police, misdemeanor DUI, child endangerment, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest, and a list of other traffic violations.

The charges follow a March 30 incident where police say Coleman led Butler, Butler Township and state police on a chase from the city into Butler Township, after officers attempted to pull him over for running a stop sign. The chase ended on Whitestown Road when Coleman's vehicle crashed into a state police cruiser, police said.

Trooper Kevin Goss was injured in the crash. He was treated for unknown injuries at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Police suspect Coleman was impaired while driving the sport utility vehicle that was also occupied by a 13-year-old boy, a relative of Coleman's.

The original case was dismissed by District Judge Kevin O'Donnell after the arresting officers failure to appear. Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Simon previously said the officer was at a required training conference in Harrisburg and apparently was unaware of the hearing. Coleman was subsequently released Thursday after his $100,000 bail was vacated.

Simon said Friday that a new criminal complaint was filed and an arrest warrant was issued for Coleman, but by press time he had yet to turn himself in or be picked up by police.

Once arrested, he will again be arraigned on the same charges as before. Bail again will be set, and so will a new preliminary hearing date.

Investigating troopers with the state police were unable to be reached for comment Friday.