DECATUR TOWNSHIP – A Lock Haven man accused of the attempted murder of two Clearfield-based state police troopers was arraigned on charges Thursday afternoon in district court in Kylertown.
State police say Quintin M. Titus, 25, was involved in a vehicular pursuit at approximately 12:49 a.m. Thursday morning, and fired gunshots at a patrol unit occupied by Troopers John Bacher IV and Derek Southern.
He was charged with two counts each of criminal attempt/criminal homicide, F1, criminal attempt/murder of a law enforcement officer of the first-degree, H1, and aggravated assault, F1, and four counts of aggravated assault, F2.
He was charged with possession of firearm with manufacturer number altered, F2, possession of firearm prohibited, F2, firearms not to be carried without a license, F3, and fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, F3.
In addition, he was charged with two counts each of criminal attempt/involuntary manslaughter, M1, simple assault, M2, and recklessly endangering another person, M2, DUI/controlled substance, M, and three summaries.
According to the affidavit, Bacher and Southern were traveling north on Route 53 and ran the registration of a blue Chevrolet pick-up truck, which came back to a Ford. Bacher activated his lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop near New Liberty Road.
The driver, however, failed to stop and passed the vehicle in front of him, as he proceeded to flee onto Doran Road. He then allegedly fired two rounds from his vehicle at the troopers’ patrol unit near the intersection with Crago Lane.
The pursuit continued onto Frog Hollow and Six Mile roads and then south onto the Drane Highway towards Osceola Mills until the driver lost control at the intersection of Kate and Elizabeth streets. When his vehicle became disabled, the driver fled on foot.
The troopers gave chase and took him into custody on Blanchard Street in Osceola Mills. Bacher and Southern maintained custody until Troopers Douglas Mihalko and Robert Southern arrived on-scene.
Troopers identified the driver as Titus and located his vehicle on Henry Aly with heavy front-end damage. In plain view, Buffone located a 9mm handgun on the front, passenger’s side floor, and it appeared to be jammed.
The trooper discovered the gun had a “double feed,” meaning there was an empty casing along with a live round jammed in the chamber. There were also two live rounds in the magazine and one live round was found on the passenger’s side floor.
A Rockview-based state trooper located an empty casing along Doran Road, and Titus was transported to the Penn Highlands Clearfield Hospital for the purpose of a legal blood draw, according to the affidavit.
Buffone reviewed the dash cam from the troopers’ patrol unit and observed Titus fire two rounds in the direction of Bacher and Southern. It was noted a Troop C forensic science unit member didn’t observe any damage or bullet holes in the marked unit.
During an interview, Titus allegedly admitted that he’d recently traded a bag of methamphetamine for the handgun. He claimed that he carried the gun for “protection” because “people are after him.”
Titus said he fired the gun Saturday to ensure it functioned because the guy he got it from was “sketchy.” When asked why he fired at the troopers, he paused and started to cry before saying it was his attempt at “suicide by cop.”
Titus is currently being held in the Clearfield County Jail on his charges, and was denied bail. He’s scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. June 17.
