CLEARFIELD – An Osceola Mills man is wanted for missing a court date in his drug-related DUI case, announced Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. on Tuesday.
Shaw identified the fugitive as Chase Conway, 29, and said he failed to appear for Criminal Call on Aug. 29, at which time a warrant was issued for his arrest.
On June 13, Trooper Andrew Mills of the Clearfield-based state police charged Conway with felony manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and flight to avoid apprehension.
The trooper also charged Conway with misdemeanor resisting arrest, intentional possession of controlled substance, DUI/controlled substance, false identification to law enforcement and related offenses.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on June 12, Mills, along with Trooper Zachary O. Moran, responded to reports of an impaired driver at McAteer Village in Woodward Township.
The same male driver had also been found passed out in his driver’s seat at the Fuel-On store, which is located on Elizabeth Street in Houtzdale Borough.
A witness said the male had been passed out for an extended period of time, and when he woke up, he began driving toward the McAteer Village apartment complex.
The troopers located his red Ford F-150 there in the parking lot area, and it was still running. The male was observed in the driver’s seat, where he was reportedly passed out and sweating profusely.
When he was awoken by Mills and Moran, he was requested to provide identification. He related he didn’t have any on him and claimed his name was “Chase Couturiaux.”
When Mills ran his information, the driver’s license photograph for “Chase Couturiaux” didn’t appear to be the male. He was subsequently requested to perform multiple field sobriety tests, during which he reportedly displayed signs of impairment.
Afterwards, Mills requested for consent to search the male’s vehicle, which he denied. He was instructed to put his hands behind his back, and when Mills attempted to cuff him, he reportedly began running.
Mills said he ran for a short distance until he tripped and was taken to the ground by Moran in the process. Because he still refused to listen, Mills said he had to deploy his taser in order for them to take the male into custody.
While being transported to the Clearfield Penn Highlands Hospital, the male allegedly admitted that he’d recently used methamphetamine. His vehicle was also towed to the Clearfield barracks.
At the hospital, the male continued to use the name “Chase Couturiaux.” However, after a blood draw, Mills learned his correct name was Chase Craig Conway, which was confirmed through a query for his driver’s license photograph.
Mills also learned there were multiple warrants for Conway for drug-related offenses. Conway allegedly admitted he’d been lying to troopers about his identify, and he was housed in county jail.
A drug-detection K-9 trooper later alerted during an exterior search of Conway’s Ford F-150, and a search warrant was subsequently prepared and obtained through Magisterial District Judge Mike Morris.
On June 13, a search yielded suspected methamphetamine, oxycodone and buprenorphine pills and marijuana; a digital scale; several clear, plastic bags; multiple glass smoking pipes containing residue and a pill crusher.
The suspected methamphetamine and marijuana were both NIK-tested and showed positive for both drugs, according to the affidavit.
Conway’s blood was also sent for toxicology analysis and the drug-related evidence was also being sent to the state police’s Erie Regional Crime Laboratory for further analysis.
On June 19, a preliminary hearing was held and all charges were sent to county court. On Aug. 29, Conway failed to appear for Criminal Call, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, Shaw said.
Conway is described as being a Caucasian male who is about 6 feet tall. He has brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with knowledge of Conway’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.”