A couple charged this month with robbing a bank and leading police on a 20-mile pursuit that ended with their capture on the 31st Street Bridge have been returned to the Allegheny County Jail to await trial on charges of robbery, conspiracy and a host of other charges.

John McAleavey Jr., 36, of Pittsburgh's Ridgemont section, and Meghan Jaeger, 21, of Boardman, Ohio, were held on $250,000 bond each.

District Judge Eugene Zielmanski ordered the trial after testimony at a preliminary hearing yesterday from about a half-dozen witnesses, including Eileen McCabe of Dormont, who called 911 when she saw a man in a disguise running into the National City Bank branch in Banksville Plaza just before 6 p.m. Sept. 5.

Ms. McCabe testified that she followed the suspect in her car as he ran across the shopping plaza parking lot and got into a minivan. Then she followed the getaway vehicle as it weaved through heavy traffic on Crane Avenue and Saw Mill Run Boulevard. She continued to provide information to a 911 operator, describing the suspect's vehicle and his disguise.

A bank teller testified that the robber jumped over the counter, demanded money, told workers that he had a gun and ordered three of them to put cash in a gray canvas bag before he fled out the door.

That began the 20-mile chase through the city, up and down Route 28 as far as Etna, and onto the 31st Street Bridge, where several police vehicles cornered the van.

Along the way, police testified, the fleeing driver struck several other cars as he forced his way through traffic. He ignored all traffic signals and used the minivan to slam into a police cruiser that had tried to overtake him on Route 28 south.

Lt. Timothy O'Connor testified that the collision caused his cruiser to roll over, and he suffered a gash in his arm that required 12 stitches to close. He said he missed one day of work.

During close encounters by police as the getaway vehicle was stuck in traffic, officers said they clearly could see the driver's face. Officer Ronald Freeman testified that he tried to open the locked passenger side door at one point just before the arrest.

Through the open passenger window, Officer Freeman said he heard Mr. McAleavey mutter, "I'm not stopping. I'm not stopping."

Mr. McAleavey suffered injuries during a scuffle with police upon his arrest. He was taken, under guard, to a hospital, where Officer Stephen Crisanti testified that the suspect apologized for having run Lt. O'Connor off the road.

Mr. McAleavey also bragged that he had spent $4,000 on engine improvements to his minivan to have it "souped up" in preparation for the robbery.

The suspect said he had scouted the robbery site a day before the event, and claimed he never would shoot a police officer and did not have a gun.

At the time of the robbery, Ms. Jaeger was free while awaiting trial on prostitution and other charges stemming from her July arrest in Green Tree.

A day before the robbery, Mr. McAleavey faced a preliminary hearing in Municipal Court, where he was ordered to stand trial on charges of operating a house of prostitution, according to court records.

At a news conference yesterday, Pittsburgh police Assistant Chief Regina McDonald said officers' actions in the chase were under investigation, and findings would not be available for "probably a month or two."

After Chief Nate Harper receives the final report and recommendations, he will consult with suburban police chiefs involved in the chase on any action their departments might take as well.