Windber man arrested after police surround house in Connellsville
John F. Brothers|蘑菇视频
State police and Connellsville City police search a neighborhood for a suspect reportedly involved in a police pursuit Monday afternoon, the alleged vehicle involved was discovered on North Arch Street in Connellsville.
Amanda Steen | 蘑菇视频
An accident involving a state police cruiser occurred at the intersection of University Drive and Arch Bridge Road around 2 p.m. Monday. The suspect then fled on foot into a nearby home.
Amanda Steen|蘑菇视频
A two-vehicle accident involving a state police cruiser Monday afternoon on Route 119 at Arch Bridge Road in Dunbar Township caused a traffic tie-up. The cause is under investigation.
John F. Brothers |蘑菇视频
Police placed an unidentified male in custody from this house at 311 W. Fayette St. in Connellsville, Monday afternoon, following a police pursuit that started in Dunbar Township.
John F. Brothers|蘑菇视频
This blue vehicle was discovered on North Arch Street in Connellsville after it was allegedly involved in a police pursuit Monday in Dunbar Township.
A Windber man allegedly fled state police during a traffic stop and ran into a Connellsville house on foot before state police surrounded the home and apprehended him Monday afternoon.
Anthony Jacob Ott, 33, was pulled over in a blue Chevrolet Cobalt for a traffic stop at the Fayette County Fairgrounds near Pechin Avenue in Dunbar Township at 1:18 p.m., according to state police.
Police said Ott identified himself as Tony Distefano. When no record was found for the given name and date of birth, state police Cpl. Brian Mears asked him to leave the vehicle so his identity could be investigated. Ott then allegedly sped away with Mears next to his window, police said.
鈥淎s to why he was decided to flee when the trooper was right next to his window, I have no idea on that,鈥� said Connellsville police Chief Jim Capitos.
Police were on the lookout for the vehicle, Capitos said. He said a license plate number and description was matched to a car driving down Falls Avenue toward Route 201 in Connellsville.
State police said their chase was terminated, then re-initiated when the vehicle was spotted by Connellsville police.
They tried to stop the vehicle, but the car fled again, police said.
Witnesses who live near the house at 311 W. Fayette St. said they saw the car speeding down the street with a state police car close behind.
鈥淭he guy comes flying down here about 100 mph,鈥� said resident Dale Davis. 鈥淣ext thing I know there were about 15 cops down here surrounding the place.鈥�
Police said the man ditched the vehicle in an alley off Witter Avenue.
Davis said he saw the man run down an alley and into the West Fayette Street house. Police used speakers to try to get him out. The vehicle he was driving was towed.
Capitos said the back door of the house was unlocked, and police spotted the man inside between the kitchen and adjoining room. He was arrested without incident, he said.
鈥淣obody was injured,鈥� he said. 鈥淣obody was armed.鈥�
State police said Ott had two warrants in Somerset County. They said he was awaiting arraignment at the Fayette County booking center Monday night. No charges were filed by 9 p.m.
At 1:40 p.m., authorities responded to a two-vehicle crash on Route 119 at Arch Bridge Road in Dunbar Township, involving a marked state police vehicle. The second vehicle was a black sedan.
No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
It is unclear what caused the crash and whether it was related to the chase.