DUBOIS – A DuBois man will have his case added to the trial list after a judge found that there is enough evidence against him to proceed.
Derek M. Sowa, 27, of DuBois is being held in Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $50,000 after he allegedly assaulted a Sandy Township police officer after driving under the influence of alcohol.
The incident happened on June 1 just before midnight when Clearfield County 911 received a call that a red Jeep Cherokee was passing vehicles while in a no-passing zone on the Bee Line Highway in Sandy Township. Officers notified security at Treasure Lake to be on the lookout for such a vehicle, but the guard on duty said that the vehicle had gone through the gate about 30 seconds prior to the call.
As officer Jason Gill arrived at the gate, he was notified that two drivers were arguing at the intersection of Bay Road and Adderly Road while stopped in their vehicles. Gill then spoke with a man who said a man in a red Jeep Cherokee ran his vehicle off the road. The witness testified Friday before Magisterial District Judge Patrick N. Ford that he confronted the driver of the Jeep, and the Jeep’s driver then threatened to shoot him.
Gill left the witness and found a red Jeep Cherokee on Woolendean Road. Gill testified that the Jeep was in the middle of the road; he also noted that the vehicle had a flat tire.
As he was looking into the Jeep, he heard a stick crack from down a nearby embankment. He shined a flashlight in the area and saw a man lying on the ground.
Gill said he identified himself as a police officer and ordered the man to show his hands. The man ignored Gill’s orders and began to stand up, yelling obscenities at the officer, threatening to shoot him. The man was also reaching for his waistband, a spot Gill said is common for someone to carry a gun.
Gill told Sowa’s defense attorney, Christopher Mohney, that night was “probably the most fearful I was in my career so far.”
Gill said he stepped forward and kicked Sowa in the chest, as Gill was higher on the embankment with his legs nearly level with Sowa’s head. Gill was able to see Sowa’s hands and noticed that he did not have a weapon. Gill holstered his own weapon and pulled his pepper mace from his belt.
Sowa was sprayed with mace, and he and Gill entered a struggle. During that incident, Gill testified that he remembered feeling something pulling at his duty belt where his gun was holstered. He felt Sowa’s hand on the gun and pulled it away.
Gill said he punched Sowa in the face and was able to stand up after the altercation. Sowa again attempted to stand, and Gill used his flashlight to hit him in the back of the legs, a maneuver he was taught in his police training.
Sowa was subsequently brought under control and transported to the gate at Treasure Lake where emergency medical personnel were to meet officers.
Sowa is charged with aggravated assault for fighting with a police officer, recklessly endangering another person and resisting arrest, along with other counts.
Clearfield County Assistant District Attorney Earle Lees Jr. said Sowa is on probation in Cameron County for a similar incident.