State police were involved in two pursuits on two consecutive nights this week, and they got their man both times after the suspects wrecked their vehicles.
The first pursuit was on Tuesday, just after 2 AM, and it covered multiple municipalities. State troopers attempted to pull over 22-year-old Daniel Deem of Indiana for a traffic violation on Water Street in Indiana Borough, but Deem sped off toward Third Street. As they gave chase, he ran through stop signs and signals, with the pursuit ending in Homer City Borough when Deem struck a parked vehicle and his own vehicle became partially disabled. He’s charged with felony fleeing and eluding, misdemeanor driving under the influence, and thirty additional summary traffic violations. As of yesterday, he was being held at the Indiana County Jail in lieu of ten percent of $10,000 bond, with a hearing scheduled on Tuesday before District Judge George Thachik.
The second pursuit began at the intersection of Indiana Springs Road and Wayne Avenue in White Township at a couple of minutes before midnight on Wednesday. Corporal Adam Thomas attempted to pull over 22-year-old James Beecroft of Abingdon, Virginia, for several traffic violations but Beecroft hit the gas and sped off on Wayne Avenue toward Indiana Borough, reaching 95 miles per hour before he tried to turn onto Hospital Road and hit the curb, disabling his vehicle.
Beecroft is charged with fleeing and eluding, DUI, possession of marijuana and of a drug paraphernalia, and multiple traffic offenses.
