UPDATE: Police Respond to Carjacking in the Central Northside

Published on October 10, 2025

UPDATE: Saniyah Gates, 18, of Pittsburgh, faces multiple charges in connection with this incident.

She faces felony counts of theft by unlawful taking and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. Additional charges include multiple misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, an accident involving damage to the attended vehicle, prohibited acts, driving without a license, running a red light, driving on roadways laned for traffic, driving down a one-way road, and driving upon the sidewalk.  

Gates was taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

Original post:

At 5:53 p.m., Pittsburgh Police from Zone 1 responded to the 1100 block of Federal Street in the Central Northside neighborhood for reports of a carjacking.

Zone 1 officers tracked the stolen vehicle as it crossed the Ninth Street Bridge. A felony traffic stop was attempted by Zone 1 officers and Port Authority Police at Penn Avenue and 7^th Street, but the adult female suspect fled.

The suspect struck a Zone 2 police vehicle at the intersection of Grant Street and Fifth Avenue. No injuries were reported by officers.

The suspect continued before colliding with another vehicle and striking the exterior of the Omni William Penn Hotel, at the intersection of Oliver Avenue and William Penn Place. No injuries were reported.

After a brief struggle, the adult female suspect was tased by Port Authority Police and taken into custody.

Zone 1 will continue the investigation. Charges are forthcoming.