JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) — A Punxsutawney man who was involved in a fatal gas station crash earlier this month in Indiana County is facing charges of assault and resisting arrest.
Court documents indicate the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed the following charges against 32-year-old Michael Anthony White of Punxsutawney on Monday, July 16, in Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office:
– Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforcement, Misdemeanor 2
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:15 am on Monday, July 23, with Judge Mizerock presiding.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, around 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, July 5, Officer Winfield, of the Punxsutawney Borough Police, was called to the PSP Punxsutawney, where Corporal McIntosh informed him about the investigation of a fatal crash that occurred at the gas station at the intersection of State Routes 119 and 85 in Home, Pa.
Corporal McIntosh explained that Michael White of Belmont Avenue, Punxsutawney, was inside the vehicle that crashed and fled the scene on foot.
Around 3:30 p.m., Officer Winfield arrived at the Belmont Avenue residence and went to the front door where he spoke to a known man.
According to the complaint, the known man said White owns a silver 2003 Subaru Legacy Outback, but he had given it to his parents to drive. The man said the Subaru is still registered to White, but his parents have the insurance and drive the vehicle.
Officer Winfield asked if White still drove the vehicle, and the man said sometime White comes by when everyone is at work and takes it. Officer Winfield also asked when the man had last seen the vehicle, and the man said around 6:00 a.m. that day before he left for work, the complaint states.
Officer Winfield then called and gave the information regarding the vehicle to Corporal McIntosh.
While Officer Winfield was at the residence, White arrived and walked in the back door. When White saw Officer Winfield, in uniform, he attempted to flee, according to the complaint.
The complaint states that Officer Winfield grabbed White’s arm and told him to stop, but White pulled away.
Officer Winfield then grabbed his other arm and a struggle ensued. Officer Winfield ordered White to stop fighting and get on the ground, and White said that his back hurt and he was in an accident. Officer Winfield then told him to stop fighting and he would get him medical attention, but White continued to struggle, the complaint indicates.
According to the complaint, during the struggle, White was trying to get into his front pocket and waistband area, and Officer Winfield suspected he was going for a weapon. Officer Winfield then slammed White against the refrigerator, then pulled White to the ground and got on top of him, pinning his arms. White’s dentures came out of his mouth and fell to the floor when he was taken down.
Officer Winfield was able to get control of White’s hands and handcuff him. He called for assistance and called Corporal McIntosh to the scene.
The complaint states that as Officer Winfield was aware that White had been involved in a motor vehicle crash, he got him to his feet and had him sit in a chair and also called for a medic unit. White complained that his back was hurting.
White’s father then arrived and began to talk to White.
According to the complaint, White said he was not driving, and that James Brown was. White said he was “passed out” in the car and “woke up to it on fire and got out and ran away before it blew up.”
James Brown, who was driving the vehicle, is scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing on felony homicide by vehicle DUI and related charges at 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21, in Magisterial District Judge Susanne V. Steffee’s office.
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