Drunk Driver Nearly Strikes State Police Vehicle, Resists Arrest in Allegheny Township

Aly Delp

Aly Delp

Published August 17, 2018 4:29 am
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ALLEGHENY TWP., Pa. (EYT) — A 57-year-old man is facing a series of charges following an incident in which he nearly struck a state police vehicle in Allegheny Township late Wednesday evening.

Court documents indicate the Franklin-based State Police filed the following charges against 57-year-old Mark David Crawford, of Erie, on August 16:

  • DUI: General Impairment/Incapable of Driving Safely — 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
  • Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
  • Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforcement, Misdemeanor 2
  • Disorderly Conduct Engage In Fighting, Misdemeanor 3 (two counts)
  • Careless Driving, Summary
  • Damage Real Property By Operating Motor Vehicle, Summary
  • Reckless Driving, Summary
  • Not Use Low Beam, Summary
  • Failure to use safety belt — driver and front seat occupant, Summary

According to a criminal complaint, Trooper Morrison, of PSP Franklin, responded to a report of a trespass by a motor vehicle and disorderly conduct incident around 8:38 p.m. on August 15 on Pleasant Valley Drive, in Allegheny Township, Venango County.

Trooper Morrison reported in the complaint that Mark Crawford drove directly behind his marked patrol vehicle at an unsafe distance on a dirt and loose gravel road (Pleasant Valley Road). Trooper Morrison accelerated in order to gain distance, but Crawford accelerated as well, bringing his truck into close proximity, nearly striking Trooper Morrison’s vehicle. Crawford also turned on his high beams.

According to the complaint, Trooper Morrison attempted to swing his vehicle around to face Crawford’s vehicle, but Crawford failed to stop at a safe distance and nearly struck the patrol vehicle on the driver’s side door.

Trooper Morrison then exited his vehicle. He observed that Crawford had a semi-automatic pistol in a holster on the center compartment of his vehicle by his right hand. He approached Crawford’s vehicle at the passenger side door, which had its window down, and immediately noted a strong scent of alcohol coming from Crawford’s person, the complaint states.

Trooper Morrison then instructed Crawford to turn off the vehicle and hand over the keys, but Crawford allegedly refused. After repeated requests for Crawford to hand over the keys, Crawford allegedly threw the keys at Trooper Morrison, striking him in the face, according to the complaint.

Crawford was then instructed to exit the vehicle, again he again allegedly refused. After repeated requests, Trooper Morrison attempted to remove Crawford from the vehicle. Crawford resisted, and Trooper Morrison pulled him from the vehicle, placed him face down on the ground, and wrestled him into handcuffs. Crawford “reeked” of alcohol on his breath and his person and had “severely slurred speech” and was stumbling and falling to the ground repeatedly, the complaint states.

A witness during the arrest identified Crawford as the individual who had ridden an ATV on private property, causing minor damage, and who had also shown him a 9 mm pistol in its holster and made a threatening statement after they had words, according to the complaint.

Crawford was arraigned at 12:25 a.m. on Thursday, August 16, in Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey’s office.

Unable to post $5,000.00 cash bail, he was lodged in the Venango County Jail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 22, in Venango County Central Court.

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