Strattanville Man Pleads Guilty to DUI, Fleeing Police

Scott Shindledecker

Scott Shindledecker

Published November 3, 2017 4:26 am
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gavelCLARION, Pa. (EYT) — A Strattanville man who faced multiple charges following a police pursuit earlier this year pleaded guilty on Wednesday in the Clarion County Court of Common Pleas.

Houston Jennings Hatcher, 33, of Strattanville, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of a controlled substance and fleeing and eluding police, both misdemeanors. The fleeing charge was originally a third-degree felony, but after consulting with state police, it was determined that the charge would be reduced to a misdemeanor.

Other charges, including possession of drug paraphernalia, driving without a license, speeding, careless and reckless driving, were dropped.

A sentencing date has not been set.

According to the criminal complaint, around 12:16 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, troopers from Clarion-based State Police were in a marked patrol car on Dewey Road, in Redbank Township, using radar on passing traffic on Route 28. A white Ford Super Duty pickup truck was seen traveling north at 74 miles per hour in a posted 55 MPH zone.

When police attempted to pull the vehicle over, it continued north on Route 28 at a high rate of speed, between 75 and 100 miles per hour.

The complaint states that the vehicle turned left onto Sandy Flat Road, continuing to travel at a high rate of speed, then turned right on Davis Hill Road, and right again onto Toadtown Road, and then right onto Route 28.

The chase ended when the vehicle turned into a known bar and put the vehicle in park. As Houston Hatcher exited the vehicle, an odor of marijuana was detected. Hatcher was placed under arrest and a search of the vehicle was conducted, according to the complaint.

Inside the vehicle, a grinder in the driver’s side door with remnants of a green substance and an Altoid container with remnants of the green substance were discovered, the complaint continues.

Hatcher stated that “he had smoked marijuana recently and probably had it in his blood,” the complaint states.

A blood draw was performed at the Clarion Hospital.

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