DuBOIS – A homeless man who ran from police waived his right to a preliminary hearing during Centralized Court.
Louis V. Porrett, 26, is charged with flight to avoid apprehension, fleeing or attempting to elude police, criminal mischief, recklessly endangering another person and several summaries. His bail was lowered from $50,000 monetary to $50,000 unsecured.
The charges stem from an incident on July 4 in DuBois. According to the affidavit of probable cause, an officer saw a vehicle make a left turn onto North Brady Street from West Long Avenue without using a turn signal. The driver saw the police car and immediately turned right, up over a cement curb and through the parking lot of the Sheetz store. The vehicle accelerated toward Rose Alley. The driver failed to stop and almost struck another vehicle head-on. The officer activated his siren and lights as it followed the vehicle.
The car continued on and failed to stop at another intersection and accelerated in an attempt to get away from the police. It turned the wrong way onto East Scribner Avenue. Pedestrians in that area had to move away from the road to prevent from being struck. The vehicle was going at a speed greater than 70 miles per hour in a 25 miles per hour zone. It never slowed down for other vehicles.
When it got to the bottom of the hill, there were people standing next to parked cars. It traveled onto a driveway and into a yard where it almost struck a house, another vehicle, trees and bushes. It ran over several pieces of plastic piping damaging it. It continued through the back yard, over an embankment and then onto South Third Street.
The officer advised other units in the area of their location. The vehicle continued on at a high rate of speed. At the intersection of Chestnut Street and North Fourth Street, it failed to stop. A father and son who were walking there had to move out of the way to prevent from being hit.
The vehicle was found in the driveway of 23 Chestnut Ave. The driver was gone. Neighbors told police the driver ran on foot up the alley toward Maple Avenue.
The officer who was following the vehicle went to Maple Avenue where he saw the driver walking on the sidewalk. This officer advised other officers of this location before he stopped near the driver. He ordered the driver, later identified as Porrett to the ground and took him into custody.
When questioned, Porrett admitted he was on state parole and there was a warrant for his arrest. This was confirmed and he was taken to the county jail.