A Clearfield teen has been charged with aggravated assault – a second-degree felony – after attempting to flee from local authorities Jan. 28.
Christian Scott Graham, 19, has also been charged by Clearfield-based state police with use/possession of drug paraphernalia, M; recklessly endangering another person, M2; fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, M2; and numerous summaries. His bail has been set at $50,000 monetary.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Trooper James Ensor was sitting stationary at the intersection of Pinetop and Bigler roads in Bradford Township. At approximately 8:35 p.m., a black-colored coupe passed him and its driver, Graham, turned to head north on Pinetop Road.
Ensor began to follow the vehicle and its registration came back as a “dead tag.” While on Pinetop Road, Graham was reportedly traveling over 60 miles-per-hour in a posted 40-miles-per-hour zone.
There was not a safe location in this area for Ensor to initiate a traffic stop. When the vehicle reached the intersection at Main Street, Ensor activated his emergency lights to proceed with the traffic stop.
However, Graham allegedly accelerated in an attempt to flee. While fleeing, Graham’s vehicle left its lane of travel and sped by a posted stop sign at the intersection of Hogback and Post Office roads.
The pursuit continued west on Post Office Road – a two-way roadway – and the Graham vehicle traveled in the center of the roadway. He then failed to stop and use his turn signal at the posted stop sign at the intersection of Post Office Road and U.S. Route 322.
When the pursuit continued, the Graham vehicle reportedly left its lane of travel multiple times. He also failed to signal when he entered the on-ramp for state Route 879.
The pursuit continued west on the SR 879 Bypass, and the Graham vehicle was reportedly traveling in both lanes. He failed to signal and to stop at a steady red signal at the intersection of SR 879 and South Second Street in Clearfield.
As the pursuit continued west on SR 879, the Graham vehicle left its lane of travel multiple times. He then failed to signal when he attempted to make a left-turn onto the Old Erie Pike.
Because he was traveling too fast for roadway conditions, Graham’s vehicle slid through the intersection. As a result, his vehicle nearly struck the guiderail, Ensor said.
Ensor and Lawrence Township Officer Jon Walker exited their patrol vehicles in an attempt to take Graham into custody. However, he allegedly backed his vehicle into Walker’s patrol unit, and the pursuit resumed east on the Old Erie Pike.
The Graham vehicle reportedly left its lane of travel multiple times along the Old Erie Pike. He failed to signal and stop at a posted sign at the intersection with the Clearfield–Glen Richey Highway.
The pursuit continued north onto the Clearfield-Glen Richey Highway, and the Graham vehicle left its lane of travel multiple times. Near Lawrence Park Village, a Clearfield Borough officer attempted to stop the vehicle with a spike strip.
However, the Graham vehicle evaded the spike strip by entering the southbound lane of Route 153. He then failed to signal as he made a left turn onto the SR 879 on-ramp from Park Avenue Extension.
Graham turned right and headed east on the bypass. Lawrence Township Officers Elliott Neeper and Walker, along with Ensor, attempted to box in the vehicle, which made an abrupt move to the left in an attempt to get out of the rolling roadblock. Graham’s vehicle allegedly made contact with Neeper’s patrol unit.
The pursuit continued west on Route 879. As it entered the “S” turns, west of Airport Road, Graham lost control of his vehicle and struck an embankment.
His vehicle spun 360 degrees and continued traveling west on SR 879. While approaching the next right-hand turn, Ensor used a maneuver in an attempt to terminate the pursuit. Graham subsequently lost control of his vehicle, and it spun 180 degrees. He reportedly attempted to continue fleeing.
However, Graham was taken into custody and searched by Trooper Marshall Siple. Siple found a container that allegedly had a razor blade, plastic straw and part of an orange pill.
Graham’s preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 7 during centralized court.
