A 32-year-old Clarion man wanted on multiple active warrants is now facing criminal charges after allegedly leading police on a pursuit that stretched across two counties and crossed the Allegheny River. Raymond Dale McIntyre was spotted driving east on Route 68 in a Nissan Rogue on Sept. 5, setting off a chase that continued into Armstrong County and ended after he turned onto Seybertown Road, where police called it off for safety reasons.
According to The Courier Express, police attempted to stop McIntyre because he was wanted on multiple active warrants, but he allegedly fled from them on Route 68 in Madison Township, Clarion County. Officers said they lost sight of his vehicle during the pursuit before encountering it again near Sandy Hollow Road.
Chase Resumes Near Sandy Hollow Road
Police said they attempted to block McIntyre from continuing forward near Sandy Hollow Road and ordered him to get out of his car, which was roughly 30 feet away at the time, per the same account. Instead, McIntyre allegedly drove around the patrol vehicle and onto Sandy Hollow Road, continuing to flee.
The pursuit then continued down several roads toward East Brady Borough, the report states. McIntyre allegedly drove onto sidewalks in East Brady Borough before crossing the Allegheny River into Armstrong County and turning onto Seybertown Road. Police ultimately discontinued the pursuit on Seybertown Road due to safety concerns, the outlet reported.
Charges Filed Weeks After the Pursuit
Charges against McIntyre were filed Oct. 16 in New Bethlehem, according to the court filing cited by the news outlet. He was charged with flight to avoid apprehension, fleeing or attempting to elude police, careless driving, operating a vehicle in willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property, and a habitual-offender violation for driving while his operating privilege was suspended, along with multiple other traffic violations. The case was filed before District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller in New Bethlehem.
Pennsylvania law defines fleeing or eluding police as willfully failing or refusing to stop, or otherwise fleeing or attempting to elude a pursuing officer after receiving a visual and audible signal to stop, according to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. A standard violation is graded as a second-degree misdemeanor carrying an additional $500 fine, though the offense can be elevated to a third-degree felony when a driver endangers a law enforcement officer or member of the public during a high-speed chase. Separately, state law provides that a habitual offender who drives on a Commonwealth highway while their operating privilege is suspended, revoked or canceled commits a second-degree misdemeanor, according to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
A Decade-Old Case With Similar Charges
Court records show this is not McIntyre's first brush with fleeing-related charges. According to CourtListener, Raymond D. McIntyre pleaded guilty on July 29, 2015, to one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and possessing drug paraphernalia.
