Shippenville Man Faces Charges After Crashing Stolen Vehicle

Aly Delp

Aly Delp

Published March 22, 2019 4:27 am
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CLARION BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — A Shippenville man is facing multiple charges following a crash in Clarion Borough where he was arrested on suspicion of DUI and was found to be driving a stolen vehicle.

Court documents indicate the Clarion Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 43-year-old Brett Alan Davis, of Shippenville.

According to a criminal complaint, around 7:00 p.m. on March 5, Officer Scheckler, of the Clarion Borough Police Department, was dispatched to the intersection of Main Street and Third Avenue in Clarion for a report of a traffic accident involving two vehicles.

When Officer Scheckler arrived at the scene, he observed a brown 2016 Ford Explorer that had been struck in the rear by a black 2004 Volvo. The Volvo sustained severe disabling damage and had to be towed from the scene.

Officer Scheckler spoke with the driver of the Ford, a known female victim, who reported that she was traveling east on Main Street and stopped for a vehicle making a left turn from Main Street to North Third Avenue. The victim stated that she noticed the Volvo approaching in her rearview mirror and realized it wasn’t slowing. The Volvo then struck her Ford from behind.

The victim said following the impact, she exited her vehicle and went to the driver of the Volvo, later identified as Brett Davis, to see if he was okay. She reported that he was “acting kind of strange,” according to the complaint.

Officer Scheckler then approached Davis, who was still sitting inside the Volvo.

According to the complaint, Davis said he was okay, and when asked what happened, he said he was driving and the Ford stopped, and he hit the rear of it.

The complaint notes that Davis seemed somewhat confused, and Officer Scheckler noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Davis and also noticed that his eyes were glassy. Officer Scheckler then asked Davis if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages, and Davis said that he had not.

According to the complaint, when Officer Scheckler mentioned that his eyes were glassy, Davis asked “Why are my eyes glassy?” and when Officer Scheckler suggested it was due to consuming alcohol, Davis again denied consuming any alcohol.

After Officer Scheckler collected both drivers’ information to complete his accident investigation, a tow truck arrived for the Volvo, and the driver asked if they could leave the scene with Davis and the Volvo. Officer Scheckler told the driver that he could remove the Volvo, but Davis needed to stay for additional questioning. The driver informed Officer Scheckler that Davis was sitting in the tow truck wanting to leave, and Officer Scheckler asked the driver to have Davis exit the truck to speak to him.

The complaint notes that when Officer Scheckler began to question Davis again, Davis seemed irritated. Officer Scheckler stated again that he smelled alcohol on his breath and requested that he submit to a preliminary breath test device, but Davis refused. Officer Scheckler then conducted a field sobriety test known as the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus. Davis scored the maximum of six clues, showing signs of impairment. Officer Scheckler then asked Davis to perform additional field sobriety tests, but Davis refused, according to the complaint.

During this time, Davis commented on being a diabetic, and Officer Scheckler asked if he was okay and had taken medication needed for his diabetes. Davis replied that he was okay and had taken his medication.

Davis was then told he was under arrest for DUI. Officer Scheckler ordered Davis to place his hands behind his back, but Davis refused to comply, and Officer Scheckler then physically turned him around as he resisted, the complaint states.

Davis was then handcuffed, searched, and placed in Officer Scheckler’s patrol vehicle to be transported to Clarion Hospital Emergency Room for a blood alcohol test. Officer Scheckler read Davis the Chemical Testing Warnings three times, at Davis’ request, and Davis did not give consent for the blood test. He was then transported to Clarion Borough Police Department for processing, the complaint indicates.

According to the complaint, around 8:05 p.m. on March 7, a known man came to the Clarion Borough Police Department to file a theft report. The man reported that Brett Davis took his 2004 Volvo without his permission. He stated his in-laws were the only people he gave permission to move the Volvo, if necessary, and Davis did not have permission to operate it. He requested that Davis be charged with theft of the Volvo and noted that he only had liability insurance on it, and it was valued at approximately $4,000.00.

Around 6:05 p.m. on March 8, Davis came to the Clarion Borough Police Department to speak to Officer Scheckler about the use of the Volvo. He was read his Miranda warnings and agreed to give a statement.

According to the complaint, Davis reported he went home after work, completely exhausted, and had a few drinks in the afternoon. He said he then fell asleep and woke up around 6:30 p.m. He went on to state that he remembers getting into an accident, and noted that he didn’t have permission to drive the Volvo and “wasn’t sure what possessed him” to drive the vehicle.

Davis was arraigned in Magisterial District Judge Duane L. Quinn’s office at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, on the following charges:

  • Theft by Unlawful Taking — Movable Property, Felony 3
  • Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 3
  • Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle, Misdemeanor 2
  • DUI: General Impairment/Incapable of Driving Safely — 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
  • Driving at Safe Speed, Summary
  • Driving Without a License, Summary

He remains free on $2,500.00 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, with Judge Quinn presiding.

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