FORD CITY MAN SENTENCED FOR LEADING POLICE ON CHASE

A man who fled from police in White Township and Homer City was sentenced Friday morning in Indiana County Court.

Drew Alexander Bittner of Ford City man pleaded guilty to charges of fleeing or eluding an officer, DUI, and possession of drug paraphernalia for an incident on December 30^th of last year.  State Police said he was seen speeding along Wayne Avenue in White Township, and that he had an active arrest warrant out of Armstrong County.  Police tried to pull him over near Hoss’s Steak and Sea House on Wayne Avenue, but he sped away and led police on a chase that police had to stop due to the high rates of speed.  The pursuit was picked up in Homer City and after hitting a curb, Bittner pulled into a home on Greenville Road.  He was taken into custody at that point.

Indiana County President Judge Thomas Bianco sentenced him to up to a day less than two years in county jail for fleeing and up to six months for the DUI, but he was given credit for time served and paroled immediately.  For the possession charge, he was ordered to serve a year of probation.

Also in court was Billy Fridley of Blairsville pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possessing an instrument of crime in connection with a stabbing in November of 2022.  Police say on November 16^th, Fridley attacked someone with a knife near the intersection of North 4^th and Oak Streets.  He was ordered to serve up to eight years in state prison for the aggravated assault charge and up to three years for the possession of an instrument of crime charge.  The sentences will run concurrently.