Driver accused of dragging off-duty officer
JEFFERSON TWP — A 20-year-old man was arrested after authorities say he dragged an off-duty police officer while driving away from the scene of a weekend altercation involving another man and a knife.
Lee J. Rapsinski of Penn Township, who is facing felony assault and other charges, is being held in the Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail.
Butler Township Patrolman Rachel Dovidio, who was not working, came upon a possible assault with a knife at about 4 p.m. Saturday at Dinnerbell and Whitaker roads in Jefferson Township, state police said.
Dovidio reported that she saw two men — later identified as Rapsinski and Nathan Terrill — involved in a “physical altercation” in the back seat of a Ford Escape, according to court documents.
During the incident Rapsinski is accused of brandishing a knife and telling Terrill, “I'm going to kill you.”
Investigators said Dovidio approached the vehicle and identified herself as an off-duty officer. She notified state police about what she found and told the men to stay where they were.
But Rapsinski didn't listen, Instead, documents said, he got out of the vehicle, took off the license plate and entered the driver's door.
Dovidio opened the door and tried to stop Rapsinski from leaving. But he started the engine and quickly drove off, investigators said.
Rapsinski “dragged Dovidio from the door with the vehicle until she fell to the ground,” according to a police affidavit.
She was not injured and she was back at work for her regular shift Monday, said Butler Township police Lt. Matthew Pearson.
State police later found Rapsinski's Ford Escape at the defendant's home on Old Plank Road. He was not home.
Authorities said they eventually found him in a wooded area behind his house. He told police that he had burned the shirt he was wearing during the altercation
He subsequently led police to the knife he used in the incident. Police noted they smelled alcohol coming from Rapsinski while speaking to him.
District Judge Wayne Seibel arraigned Rapsinski on charges of aggravated assault, multiple counts of simple assault, terroristic threats, tampering with physical evidence, harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
