Police: Trafford man arrested during 'ride-out' at Pittsburgh airport
Jul. 21—A Trafford man who was wanted on a warrant was arrested early Friday after a stolen license plate was discovered in his vehicle at Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny County police said.
Dashawn Evans, 41, was charged with receiving stolen property and multiple traffic citations after police arrived at the airport in Findlay, responding to a report of a planned "ride-out" there involving dozens of high-end performance vehicles.
At about 3 a.m., police said they spotted multiple vehicles gathered at the airport's "public arrivals" curb while conducting "burnouts" — when a driver spins a vehicle's wheels, causing the tires to heat up and smoke.
Police identified Evans as the driver of a vehicle that had a heavily-tinted license plate and altered brake lights.
In addition to a warrant for his arrest, Evans had a suspended driver's license, police said.
County police said in plain view inside the vehicle was a license plate that had been reported stolen in June by police in Altoona.
At about 3:30 a.m. Friday, state police responded to a similar incident, when about 50 vehicles were on the Fort Pitt Bridge performing burnouts and drag racing.
When troopers arrived at that scene, a burgundy Jeep Grand Cherokee drove into the side of a marked patrol car and then fled, almost hitting a trooper, according to police. Police found the Jeep near Bridgeville with the help of the South Fayette police.
Troopers who were in the struck patrol car were being evaluated for injury.
Evans was arraigned before District Judge James J. Hanley Jr. and was released on non-monetary bail.
Online court records show he is awaiting a preliminary hearing on Sept. 7 for a theft charge in Wilkinsburg and has been charged with criminal mischief in Wilkinsburg and additional traffic offenses in Green Tree.
Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .
