CLEARFIELD – A New York man accused of escaping from Clearfield County Jail waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
Michael Rodriguez Jr. faces charges of escape; flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment; theft by unlawful taking; receiving stolen property; fleeing or attempting to elude police; recklessly endangering another person (14 Cts.); duty of driver on approach of emergency vehicles; reckless driving; driving vehicle at safe speed; stop signs and yield signs; and driving on roadways laned for traffic.
Rodruguiz was reported to have escaped the jail on the Sept. 22. At a press conference following his capture on Sept. 23, Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. said Rodriguez destroyed a portion of the fence at CCJ to help his escape effort.
He said that law enforcement arrived on-scene within minutes of the escape and a man-hunt began immediately.
Shaw said that Rodriguez reportedly stole a pickup truck from the Co-Go’s service station near the Wolfe Run Industrial Park at 9:34 a.m. on Sept. 23. He indicated that at approximately 9:57 a.m., Clearfield County Deputy Sheriffs Jerry Nevling and Mark Coudriet observed Rodriguez in the stolen pickup near Lecontes Mills in Girard Township.
He said that a high-speed pursuit followed during which the Pennsylvania State Police and the Sheriff’s Office established a road block and deployed spike strips in an effort to stop Rodriguez. He said that at approximately 10:04 a.m., Rodriguez lost control of the pickup truck and crashed along a curve in state Route 879, near the Progress Camp Road in Goshen.
He said that Rodriguez was immediately taken into custody without further incident. When asked by the press, he said that firearms were not recovered from Rodriguez.
In a press release, he stated that Rodriguez was transported via ambulance to the Clearfield Hospital for medical treatment. During the press conference, he stated he believed Rodriguez was transported to the Clearfield Airport, however. He said from there, he believed Rodriguez was airlifted to the Altoona Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the accident. Both Shaw and Lawrence Township Police Chief Jeff Fink said they were uncertain of the severity surrounding his injuries.
