CLEARFIELD – A Hastings man has been accused of leading a state trooper on a pursuit.
Jesse Clayton Gregory, 31, has been charged by Clearfield-based state police with misdemeanor fleeing or attempting to elude an officer and 21 summaries.
On Wednesday Gregory waived his right to a preliminary hearing during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail. His bail was modified from $25,000 monetary to unsecured.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Trooper Matthew Peacock was traveling north on state Route 453 at approximately 10:23 a.m. April 24. He observed a vehicle ahead of him, as it turned into a yard. The driver proceeded to turn around and travel south.
The trooper also turned around and started to pursue the vehicle. It turned onto Douglas Road and then onto a dirt road back towards SR 453. Peacock observed the vehicle enter onto SR 453 without first stopping at a clearly posted sign.
Peacock activated his emergency lights and initially stopped the vehicle along Route 453. It was described as being a red Mitsubishi Eclipse with Pennsylvania registration.
As the trooper approached the vehicle, its driver allegedly sped away and a pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, Peacock observed the vehicle cross over the centerline several times, as well as travel completely into the left lane through sharp curves.
“[It was] creating a risk for public safety,” Peacock said in the affidavit. “The vehicle also passed another traveling south on SR 453 at an unsafe location.”
The driver turned off Route 453 onto a dirt road where a bridge was “out.” He stopped his vehicle and continued to flee on foot. Peacock was able to take the driver, identified as Gregory, into custody a short distance away.
Gregory was asked why he fled and he said that his driver’s license is currently “DUI-suspended,” which Peacock confirmed.
