CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – A Rimersburg man who pleaded guilty to DUI while leading Clarion Borough Police on a high-speed chase will be sentenced this month in the Clarion County Court of Common Pleas.
According to court documents, 25-year-old Cody Alan Bowser , of Rimersburg, pleaded guilty to the following charges:
– Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer, Felony 3
– DUI: Highest Rate of Alcohol (BAC .16+) Second Offense, Misdemeanor 1
As a result of the negotiated guilty plea, the following charges were dismissed:
– DUI: General Impairment/Incompetent of Driving Safely — First Offense, Misdemeanor
– Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforcement, Misdemeanor 2
– Failure To Stop At Red Signal, Summary
– Careless Driving, Summary
– Accident Damage To Unattended Vehicle Or Property, Summary
He will be sentenced by President Judge James Arner at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 23.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, around 2:52 a.m. on November 18, 2016, Officer Wright, of the Clarion Borough Police Department, was on routine patrol in Clarion Borough, traveling north on 8th Avenue and approaching the intersection of Main Street. He had a green light at the intersection.
The complaint states that Officer Wright observed a white Dodge Neon traveling east on Main Street at a high rate of speed, so he applied his brakes as the Dodge Neon ran a red light.
When the patrol car’s overhead lights and siren were activated, “the Dodge Neon went off the right side of the highway, struck the curb at the intersection of Arnold Avenue and Main Street, and then accelerated while continuing to drive east.” The Neon reached speeds of over 91 mph. It finally came to a stop in the former Trader Horn parking lot, according to the complaint.
The complaint indicates that the male driver exited the car and got down on his hands and knees. Officer Wright drew his service weapon and gave the driver verbal commands to lay down on his stomach with his hands out in front of him. After several commands, the driver complied.
According to the complaint, Officer Scheckler, of Clarion Borough Police Department, arrived on the scene, and both officers approached the male. As the officers attempted to handcuff him, “he pulled his arms away, and both officers had to use substantial force to get the male handcuffed.”
The male was identified at Cody Alan Bowser. “He was sobbing, had a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath, and was verbally combative,” the complaint continues.
Bowser was placed in the rear of the police car and transported to the Clarion Hospital for a blood draw.
Clarion-based State Police assisted Borough Police at the hospital. Bowser allegedly would not follow verbal directives and kept trying to stand up and walk away. “After several verbal commands, Bowser got irate and attempted to put his shoulder into one of the PSP troopers,” according to the complaint.
Bowser was pushed down into the chair and was restrained until he calmed down. He continued to “act aggressively approximately two additional times and had to be restrained,” the complaint states.
Bowser agreed to a blood draw and was then transported to Clarion County Jail where he was released to their custody on a detainer by Clarion County Probation, the complaint indicates.
