NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT) — A 54-year-old man who fled police in New Bethlehem and then crashed his vehicle while allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol is scheduled to appear in court this week.

Court documents indicate Don Irvin Drummond, of Dayton, is scheduled to appear in a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller on February 19 at 9:45 a.m.

According to a criminal complaint filed by the New Bethlehem Borough Police Department, around 7:54 p.m. on Friday, January 18, Officer Taylor, of the New Bethlehem Borough Police Department, was in a marked patrol vehicle in New Bethlehem, near the intersection of Keck Avenue and Broad Street, observing the flow of traffic.

According to the complaint, Officer Taylor noticed an individual sitting in a vehicle in the Goodwill parking lot and noticed that the vehicle’s headlights kept going on and off. After the headlights continued to turn on and off for a time, Officer Taylor decided to check up on the individual in the vehicle.

Officer Taylor pulled up next to the vehicle and observed that the driver of the vehicle, a male wearing a camouflage coat, appeared to be in a confused or dazed state and was possibly either high or intoxicated, the complaint states.

The complaint notes that when the driver made eye contact with Officer Taylor, he became extremely nervous. He then began to pull his vehicle into the roadway, and Officer Taylor engaged his emergency lights to detain the driver.

According to the complaint, the driver then revved his vehicle and sped off, nearly hitting Officer Taylor’s patrol vehicle. The driver proceeded north, and Officer Taylor followed, engaging his siren as well as his lights.

According to the complaint, during the pursuit, the vehicles reached speeds up to 85 miles per hour. In the area of Nolf Chrysler Dodge, the vehicle failed to negotiate the turn at the top of the hill at Town Run Road and veered off the roadway, striking four trees which caused the vehicle to spin out of control before coming to rest in a field.

The driver, later identified as Don Drummond, then fled his vehicle and ran into the woods.

Officer Taylor and Officer Hawk, who arrived to assist, found Drummond’s footprints near the vehicle and followed them to a location on Town Hill Road where Drummond was found and taken into custody.

The complaint notes that as the officers were taking Drummond back to the location of the crash, Drumond had difficulty maintaining his balance, and the officers noted a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person.

According to the complaint, after being read his rights, Drummond explained that he had been drinking earlier in the day and was aware there were lights behind him but said he did not know that he was being pulled over. He also asked how the officers found him.

Based on the investigation, Drummond was arraigned at 11:50 p.m. on Friday, January 18, in front of Judge Miller on the following charges:

• Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer, Felony 3
• DUI: Gen Impairment/Incapable of Driving Safely — 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
• Reckless Driving, Summary
• Operate Vehicle Without Valid Inspection, Summary
• Driving Unregist Vehicle, Summary
• Driving While BAC .02 or Greater While License Suspended, Summary

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

He was released on Tuesday, January 22, on a surety bond posted by a professional bondsman.