CLEARFIELD – A New Millport man accused of nearly hitting state police patrol units while attempting to flee and who resisted being taken into custody waived his right to a preliminary hearing during Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Joshua Jeffrey Nelson, 29, of New Millport has been charged with burglary, aggravated assault, criminal trespass, DUI, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer and related offenses.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on July 2, state police were contacted by Nelson’s mother who reported he was intoxicated and suicidal. Upon state police arrival to Zion Road in New Millport, Nelson allegedly attempted to flee the scene and nearly struck a patrol unit with his Ford Escort.
State police swerved to avoid a collision with Nelson’s vehicle and started to pursue him. A state police back-up unit was traveling on Zion Road and attempting to block the roadway. However, state police were forced to take action to avoid impact with Nelson’s vehicle.
Both state police patrol units started to pursue Nelson onto Clark Road. Their pursuit allegedly continued at a high rate of speed until Nelson’s vehicle broke away from it. State police requested information from Nelson’s mother about where he may be heading, if he was in possession of any weapons and his intentions.
Nelson’s mother didn’t believe he was in possession of any weapons. However, she advised he had an aggressive pit bull, which she felt would attack anyone who pursued him. Nelson’s mother wasn’t sure of his intentions.
State police searched the area of Clark Road and a resident related observing Nelson’s vehicle travel down a dead-end dirt road. Also, the resident notified state police about a hunting camp at the end of the dirt road but wasn’t sure if its owner kept any weapons inside of it.
While searching the area, state police determined Nelson drove overtop an old fence to bypass a locked gate. He appeared to have continued in his vehicle through a grassy field before leaving it near the camp and fleeing on foot.
State police didn’t detect any signs of Nelson or his pit bull around his vehicle. While searching the area of the camp, state police located a boot print on an exterior door, which was unsecured with a broken door jam. State police proceeded to organize a perimeter around the camp and waited for additional back-up units.
At that point, state police observed Nelson in an upstairs window of the camp. When back-up patrol units arrived at the scene, Nelson allegedly fled from the camp on foot. State police took up a foot pursuit of Nelson, which caused his pit bull to aggressively pursue them.
One trooper discharged his patrol rifle and dispatched the pit bull. State police continued to pursue Nelson into a wooded area below the camp. Nelson was apprehended after being given multiple, verbal commands to get to the ground and being subdued by a taser. Nelson was placed into custody but allegedly continued to struggle with state police.
State police transported Nelson to Clearfield Penn Highlands for a chemical test and his blood sample was sent to the Erie Regional Laboratory for analysis. On July 30, the lab analysis revealed that Nelson’s blood alcohol content was .168 percent on the date in question.
Nelson is currently incarcerated at the CCJ in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to online court documents.