Uniontown man charged in escape
A Uniontown man is facing multiple charges after police allege he led them on a long foot pursuit and later broke free from an arresting officer while handcuffed and ran from officers a second time.
Monty William Jackson, 24, was subsequently charged with aggravated assault, escape, flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest, theft, receiving stolen property, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief, according to Uniontown police.
According to Officer Travis Shandor, he and other officers responded to a report of two men trying to gain access to vehicles parked on Cramer Avenue shortly before 3 a.m. Monday.
Shandor said when police responded to the scene, they were able to follow footprints in the snow to a location on Crossland Avenue where they located a man, later identified as Jackson, carrying a black bag.
When Jackson saw police, he immediately began to run, authorities said, and led Shandor and other officers on a foot pursuit that eventually ended in a wooded area in South Union Township where Shandor found Jackson hiding.
After arresting him and placing him in handcuffs, Shandor said he had to try and extricate himself and Jackson from the woods, and at one point they had to crawl under a tree.
Shandor said that while under the tree, Jackson claimed to be stuck and when the officer broke a branch to help free him, he lost his grip on Jackson, who allegedly fled officers a second time. He was eventually captured by Officer Fred Kampert after being discovered lying on the ground near Grant Street park.
Jackson and Shandor were each treated at Uniontown Hospital for injuries suffered during the incident.
Jackson will face a preliminary hearing at a later date before Magisterial District Judge Michael M. Metros.