CLEARFIELD – A Shawville man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly leading state police on a pursuit while under the influence of drugs.
Tyler J. Knepp, 26, is charged by Trooper Shane Buffone of the Clearfield-based state police with felony fleeing or attempting to elude an officer. He’s also charged with misdemeanor DUI controlled substance (three counts) and four summaries.
Knepp waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court. His bail is currently set at $10,000 monetary.
According to the affidavit, on March 19, Buffone was traveling east on the Allport Cutoff near its intersection with Shiloh Road when he saw a silver-colored Hyundai Sonata traveling west.
He recognized the vehicle as it was known to be operated by Knepp, who was also its only occupant. Knepp was known to have active warrants and a suspended driver’s license.
Buffone turned around in his patrol unit and Knepp’s vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed. After the trooper activated his emergency lights and siren, Knepp continued onto Bigler Road.
It was noted that the speed on Bigler Road is posted at 30 miles per hour, and Knepp operated his vehicle through this area in excess of 60 miles per hour.
Buffone lost sight of the vehicle but followed the dust trail in its direction of travel. From Bigler Road, the trooper reportedly saw Knepp’s vehicle fleeing at a high rate on Pinetop Road.
As he proceeded onto Pinetop Road, Buffone saw Knepp’s vehicle turn right onto Salem Road. From the 2600 block, the trooper saw the vehicle fleeing on a dirt road west of Salem Road.
Buffone turned around and proceeded west on the dirt road, at which point he reportedly saw Knepp fleeing through a wooded area on foot.
As the trooper chased Knepp, he ordered for him to “stop.” He said Knepp continued for about 200 yards until he fell and then he was taken into custody without further incident.
Three other troopers arrived on-scene as back up for Buffone, and assisted with the escort of Knepp back to Buffone’s patrol vehicle.
When Buffone looked inside Knepp’s vehicle, he allegedly saw drugs and associated drug paraphernalia within plain view.
He said an empty soda can had suspected drug residue on its bottom, as it’d been used to reduce a pill for injection via a syringe. There were also several syringes and a glass smoking device.
As a result, Knepp was taken to the hospital for a legal blood draw. He also had dilated pupils, which, the trooper said, is an indicator of being under the influence of stimulant and or depressant.
Knepp gave state police consent to search his vehicle. In the process, Cpl. Robert Straw followed Knepp’s footprints and located a Ziploc bag allegedly containing 55 Xanax bars and 33 broken bars.
Four cellular phones were also seized from inside the vehicle, in addition to the items that were in plain view, according to the affidavit.
Knepp’s blood draw indicated he was under the influence of amphetamine, methamphetamine, clonazepam, amino clonazepam, buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine.
Knepp was housed in Clearfield County Jail on his outstanding warrants, and his driver record showed his license was under suspension.