CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. announced the capture of a wanted fugitive.
Shaw identified the fugitive as Damien Lee Irvin, 34, of Route 322, Reynoldsville. Irvin was added to the Clearfield County Fugitive of the Week list on Oct. 21.
On Sept. 3, Officer Josh Johnston of the Sandy Township Police Department filed a criminal complaint. He charged Irvin with contempt for violation of order or agreement.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on July 30, Judge Paul E. Cherry issued a final protection from abuse order, stating that Irvin was not to abuse, stalk, harass, threaten or attempt to use physical force that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury to the plaintiff or any other protected person in any place where they might be found. Irvin was also prohibited from having any contact with the victim, either directly or indirectly.
The affidavit further provides that on Aug. 5, the victim contacted the Sandy Township police regarding several violations of the final protection from abuse order. Upon investigation it was found that Irvin had contacted the victim numerous times and had been harassing her through the use of social media. On Sept. 24, Irvin failed to appear for a hearing on a petition for indirect criminal contempt and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
In a separate case, on Oct. 14, Officer Travis Goodman of the Sandy Township Police Department filed a criminal complaint. He charged Irvin with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, careless driving, stop signs and yield signs, driving on right side of roadway, driving vehicle at safe speed, disorderly conduct, no passing zones, maximum speed limits and driving without lights to avoid identification.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in that case, on Oct. 14, the Sandy Township police were dispatched to the DuBois Nursing Home, located on South Eighth Street, for a male who was damaging a vehicle. Upon investigation it was found that Irvin had driven his truck to the nursing home and slashed the tires of the victim’s vehicle, and had smashed the vehicle’s windows, headlights and turn signals with an axe.
Irvin then backed his truck into the victim’s vehicle, causing additional damage. The vehicle was found to be registered to the victim who has an active final protection from abuse order filed against Irvin.
Upon arrival at the scene, police observed Irvin exiting the parking lot of the nursing home. Police followed Irvin’s vehicle, and the vehicle increased its speed to approximately 70 miles per hour while traveling on South Eighth Street. Goodman activated his warning system, audible siren and overhead lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle. However, Irvin failed to stop his vehicle.
Police continued pursuing the vehicle, which accelerated to speeds in excess of 100 mph and traveled into Jefferson County. Units from the DuBois City police, Pennsylvania State Police and Punxsutawney Borough police assisted in attempting to find the vehicle. However, Irvin was not located. In total 22.08 miles had been canvassed and covered in an attempt to locate Irvin.
An arrest warrant was issued for Irvin on Oct. 14. Irvin also had outstanding arrests warrants for two additional cases, which violations of the final protection from abuse order entered by Cherry.
Shaw stated that on Oct. 21, officers from the Sandy Township police and troopers from the Pennsylvania State Police, DuBois barracks, apprehended Irvin at a residence in Rathmel. Irvin was taken into custody and is currently lodged in the Clearfield County Jail.
Shaw thanked the Sandy Township police and Pennsylvania State Police for their assistance with this case.
Anyone with knowledge of a fugitive’s location is asked to call Clearfield County Crime Stoppers at 800-376-4700. All calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by visiting the Clearfield County District Attorney Web site at “www.ClearfieldDA.org” and selecting “Report A Crime.”