A police pursuit unfolded across Allegheny County when 27-year-old Richard Russell allegedly stole a 2012 Ford Escape from a Sunoco gas station in Butler and led law enforcement on a high-speed chase. CBS News Pittsburgh reported that the incident began on Wednesday in Richland Township and continued into Hampton Township before concluding in Shaler Township.
WTAE reported that Russell's impromptu joyride ended when he lost control of the vehicle and plummeted over an 80-foot embankment into a creek located near Eighth Avenue. The Northern Regional Police Department first detected the stolen vehicle and undertook the initial pursuit. Chief Bryan DeWick stated, "At that point, we attempted a traffic stop, and the suspect drove through several yards and evaded our officers." The crash shortly followed the Hampton Township Police Department's attempt to use spike strips.
Butler City Police, handling the investigation, have stated via WPXI that Russell will face multiple charges, including theft of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, fleeing and eluding, and several counts of criminal mischief, taking into account the damage caused both to the stolen vehicle and properties along the chase route. Furthermore, Russell was also wanted on an active parole violation warrant.
Russell was extracted from the wrecked SUV by emergency responders and was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police in Butler will be filing the charges against Russell, which, according to CBS News Pittsburgh, include misdemeanors alongside the offenses above.
