An Armstrong County man landed in the Indiana County Jail last weekend after a state police pursuit that began in Green Township and ended thirty-five miles later in Clearfield County.
The chase began at 12:25 AM on Sunday on Barr Slope Road near Route 403 in Dixonville. A state trooper attempted to pull over a car for having a headlight out, but the driver of the car, 40-year-old Keith William Habel of Ford City, hit the gas and took off. The trooper gave chase and a high-speed pursuit ensued, with troopers from the Punxsutawney and Clearfield stations responding. Troopers ahead of the chase deployed spike strips on Route 286 east of Mahaffey and flattened both of the driver’s side tires on Habel’s car, but Habel kept going until the tires were gone, the car was disabled and caught fire on Route 936 near the town of Grampian. Habel then got out of the car and surrendered.
After identifying Habel, police found a warrant issued on February 11th by Clymer police, for simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct. The new charges against him include fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving under the influence, recklessly endangering another person, habitual offenders, driving while suspended, and twenty-seven summary traffic offenses. He was arraigned before District Judge Bob Bell and ordered held at the jail, with bond set at $5,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 18th.
