CLEARFIELD – A wanted Olanta man has been accused of trying to flee from state troopers and then taking methamphetamine into the Clearfield County Jail.
James Casey Lockett, 35, has been charged by Trooper Andrew S. Mills of the Clearfield-based state police with felony contraband/controlled substance and flight to avoid apprehension.
He’s also been charged with misdemeanor intentional possession of controlled substance, use/possession of drug paraphernalia and fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, plus six summaries.
Lockett waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail. For this, his bail is set at $25,000.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at approximately 1:38 a.m. Sept. 5, Trooper John A. Bacher IV and Mills observed a dark-colored Jeep Cherokee without headlights.
The Jeep had an LED off-road light bar that illuminated from its grill area, and was headed south on McCartney Road near its intersection with Oak Ridge Road in Jordan Township.
The troopers activated their emergency lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop. However, the driver reportedly fled at an extremely high rate of speed and a pursuit ensued.
The Jeep traveled for approximately 2.2 miles, then continued onto Keagy Road where the driver exited the roadway into a field, just south of Glen Hope Boulevard in Bigler Township.
At this point, the driver got out of the Jeep and took off on foot. He ran for approximately 100 yards until troopers caught up; he then went to the ground and was taken into custody, state police say.
The troopers recognized the male and identified him as Lockett. He was found in possession of a small plastic bag of suspected methamphetamine.
Lockett advised he had an active warrant because he’d missed a court hearing in a terroristic threats case, which was confirmed. He was taken into custody and to Clearfield County Jail.
Before he was placed in the jail’s in-take room, Mills asked Lockett if he had any other illegal substances in his possession. He said no, according to the affidavit.
A short time after the troopers left the jail, a corrections officer called, saying a strip search was conducted of Lockett, which uncovered four small bags of suspected methamphetamine.
Troopers conducted a NIK test of the substance, which showed positive for the presence of methamphetamine. The evidence is being sent to the state police crime laboratory for further analysis.
In a separate case, Lockett has been charged by Trooper John A. Bacher IV with felony receiving stolen property and four summaries. Lockett also waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday in this case; for this, his bail is set at $5,000 monetary.