An Avalon police officer escaped without injury, although he was dragged some 20 feet by a vehicle he was attempting to stop last Saturday night.

The man behind the wheel of that car led officers from multiple jurisdictions on a chase through the City of Pittsburgh and North Hills before being stopped and taken into custody.

The incident began just before 1 a.m. when Avalon officers were dispatched to Center Avenue for a reported burglary in progress. Police say they were told that a man had entered the residence and begun moving items outside.

Claude Phipps Claude A. Phipps, 72, of Avalon, died Monday, Sept. 19, 2011 in Allegheny General Hospital. Mr. Phipps was the owner of Phipps 18th Century Flowers. He fostered cats and dogs from the Humane Society and shared peanut butter sandwiches with squirrels and enjoyed feeding birds. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Cardamone Phipps; his brother-in-law, Russell Cardamone of Sewickley; and his rescues, Jack, Belle, Willow and Cocoa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fredrick "Ted" and Gladys Holt Phipps.

Bellevue Police Officer Mike Hudson was promoted to the position of sergeant and sworn in Tuesday by Mayor George Doscher.

An Avalon Police officer was injured April 1 in the foot pursuit of a man who turned out to be wanted by Beaver County police, and also was in possession of suspected cocaine.

Police say that Derrick Smith, 38, of Beaver Falls, hid when he spotted a police car on Malvern Road. Officer Bob Scott found Smith lying between the front porch of a home and a tree, at which time Smith began running toward Bellevue. The pursuit crossed North Home and North Starr avenues before entering the backyards of homes on Shade Avenue in Bellevue, where Smith was apprehended.

Bellevue Council voted Tuesday to accept the grant that will put another police officer on borough streets for three years, but not without questions over why information on fourth-year funding was not provided.

Bellevue Council voted Tuesday to rescind its firing of police officer Brian Bradford in July.

Instead, Bradford will be allowed to resign effective July 27, 2010, and will withdraw his grievance regarding disciplinary measures taken by the borough.

The agreement was approved by council in a 4-2 vote at its regular meeting Tuesday. Council members Jane Braunlich and Susan Viscusi were opposed, while Mark Panichella, Jim Viscusi and Lisa Blaney-Stewart were absent.

Three people ended up under arrest on serious charges after a chance meeting with Avalon Police on Sept. 14.

An Avalon Police officer leaving a Route 65 restaurant observed what appeared to be a disabled vehicle on the highway, with another car behind it and a third vehicle stopped in the opposite lane of traffic. Police say that a man standing at the window of the disabled vehicle handed something to the driver of the third vehicle, which then drove off towards Bellevue.

A stabbing that resulted in the death of a man was a case of self-defense, according to Bellevue Police Chief Matt Sentner.

Police were called to a Jefferson Avenue apartment building just after 2 a.m. on Sunday. A woman reported that someone had broken into her apartment and been stabbed by her boyfriend.

The stabbing victim was located in the basement of the building by an Avalon Police officer.

Witnesses say the man had been stabbed multiple times.

Bellevue Council voted unanimously Tuesday to fire a police officer.

Brian Bradford has been a Bellevue Police officer for just over four years. Officials said they could not discuss the reasons for his dismissal, although the motion approved by council said that Bradford had intentionally committed several "infractions."

Solicitor Tom McDermott said that Bradford has the right to appeal the decision by council in a closed hearing, and officials could not comment on his firing until he decided whether to exercise his right to a private hearing.

Vandalism at Marmo Park in Emsworth was discovered on June 7 and 8. An Ohio Township Police officer on patrol found overturned and broken tables on June 7, and received a report of more vandalism to the tables on June 8.

Thomas Kastory, 19, of Emsworth, was cited for disorderly conduct on June 9. Police say he was in possession of drug paraphernalia.

A number of people were arrested for driving under the influence:

Brian C. Cook, 43, of Ben Avon, was charged after a traffic stop on Ben Avon Heights Road in Ohio Township on June 4.

Avalon Police Chief Robert Howie, left, welcomes his successor, new chief Tom Kokoski, after Kokoski was sworn in by Mayor David Haslett at Wednesday’s Avalon Council meeting. Howie will retire May 25 after 17 years as chief, and a total of 23 years with the Avalon Police Department. Kokoski, who has been a police officer for 12 years and employed with Avalon for the past eight, was hired last month by Avalon Council. Council voted Wednesday to approve a 3.5 year contract with Kokoski, though Dec. 31, 2013.

Fifth graders at Assumption School in Bellevue officially graduated from the D.A.R.E. program designed to keep children from such destructive behaviors as drug and alcohol use and bullying. Pictured above with Bellevue Police Officer Mike Hudson are, from left: front row -- Christina Del Nano, Lauren Kennelly, Kristen Collins, Jackie Pfeil, Bridget McCole, Luisa Valeriano and Ryan Hunt; back row -- Brianna Benson, Sam Matous, Luke Scioscia, John Tomasic, Seth Welch, Brayden Haun and Alex Parker.