SLIPPERY ROCK — A New Castle man is accused of deliberately hitting a teenager with his car following a get-together in January at the The Heights apartment complex.

District Judge William O’Donnell on Monday arraigned 23-year-old Kevin D. Taylor on felony assault and other charges. He is free on $5,000 bail.

Taylor’s arraignment in Slippery Rock came just hours after New Castle police arrested him for suspected drug activity outside a convenience store.

Slippery Rock police allege Taylor was driving a car about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 3 when he struck a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Joann Rulli of Pittsburgh. When Rulli got out of her vehicle, investigators said, he drove his car into the woman.

She suffered minor cuts and bruises and a headache in the suspected vehicular assault.

Police said when they found Rulli, she was seated in her vehicle but denied being struck, according to court documents.

However, she later acknowledged being hit by a vehicle. The officer noted she had fresh bruises on the right side of her body, from her waistline to her thigh, and cuts and bruises on her right elbow.

She was taken to the Grove City Medical Center.

Nine days later, Rulli appeared at the police station with her parents and offered a written statement about what happened.

She recounted being at The Heights with friends and drinking alcohol, documents said. She told police that Taylor also was there.

She eventually left but a short time later, Taylor drove his vehicle into her car, Rulli said. When she got out to speak with him, documents said, he hit her with his vehicle, knocking her onto the hood.

“Taylor then put his car in reverse causing Rulli to roll off of the vehicle,” according to a police affidavit. She hit her head on the pavement.

She told police that Taylor drove away.

Police on Feb. 18 got an arrest warrant for Taylor after attempts to contact him by telephone failed.

New Castle police arrested him early Monday morning while answering a drug complaint.

New Castle police, who charged Taylor with misdemeanor drug possession, subsequently turned him over to the Slippery Rock police on that department’s arrest warrant.

O’Donnell later that morning arraigned him on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, causing an accident involving injury, hit-and-run and three traffic violations.

His preliminary hearing is March 16.