Uniontown man charged in police chase
A Uniontown man who was allegedly under the influence of crack cocaine was charged with fleeing state police through the city and South Union Township early Monday.
Thomas Guy Slack, 49, of Lawn Avenue was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude officer, DUI, resisting arrest, flight to avoid apprehension and dozens of traffic violations.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, state police stopped Slack for a burned-out tail light at about 1:20 a.m. at the intersection of South Grant and Redstone streets. He initially complied, but fled when police learned he had an active bench warrant for missing a court appearance in Fayette County on a resisting arrest charge, police said.
Slack allegedly led police on a chase onto Barton Mill Road, Derrick Avenue, Martha Street, Byrer Avenue and East Highland avenues and East Berkeley Street, driving more than 70 mph and running two red lights. He continued to flee onto McClellandtown Road and Evergreen Terrace, and back onto South Mount Vernon Avenue where he turned onto Lebanon Avenue, Coal Lick Run Road, Layview Avenue and Elma Street. He turned back onto Lebanon and slid on gravel, hitting a pickup truck, court documents said.
He allegedly fled his car without putting it into park and ran into brush, where he tripped and fell. He began “fumbling” with the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt, ignoring commands to lay on his stomach and show his hands, police said, and was taken into custody after police used a Taser on him.
He was taken to Uniontown Hospital, where he reported he smoked crack cocaine about 3 to 4 hours earlier. He said he had been up for four days, slept for four hours and stayed up for another 36 hours. Slack consented to a blood draw, according to court documents.
He was arraigned Tuesday morning and lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.