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State Police at Hollidaysburg were traveling in an unmarked patrol vehicle along Eagle Valley Road, Snyder Township, at 9:45 p.m. on Monday, June 13. They pulled into the parking lot of Snappy’s Convenience Store to get gas for their vehicle when an officer noticed a white Chevrolet Silverado parked at Pump 1, still running.
The officer conduced a CLEAN/NCIC check of the registration, and the check revealed that the registration matched a Ford truck that belonged to a Tyrone resident. While pumping gas, the officer saw a nervous-looking while male walk toward the truck.
When asked if the vehicle belonged to him, the man hesitated and stated that no, it belonged to a friend. He then began talking about the price of gas, mentioning that he owned a diesel truck. At this point, the officer made the decision to approach the man and inform him that the license plate did not belong on the truck. However, by the time that the officer had finished pumping gas, the man had gotten inside of the truck and sped out of the parking lot.
The officer got into his vehicle and began following the truck, initiating his emergency lights and sirens with the intention of conducting a traffic stop for unlawful use of plates. However, it was almost immediately apparent that the suspect had no intention of stopping.
The truck continued to travel at high speeds until entering a pull-off along the right side of State Route 350. The suspect pulled into the lot but then quickly accelerated out onto State Route 350. He made a right turn onto South Mountain Road, continuing at a high speed and nearly side-swiping a passing ambulance.
The suspect made a left onto Hoover Lane and continued on the road until he entered the intersection with Election House Hill. He turned onto that roadway, and the officer lost sight of the truck, uncertain if the suspect had turned onto Hannah Hill or onto Orvis Beckwith Lane.
Upon coming across a marked patrol unit along Bell Hollow Road, the officer was advised that no vehicles had come through the area, inferring that the truck had pulled off at some point. The officer then decided to terminate the pursuit and instead canvas the area to ensure that the truck had not crashed.
While conducting a canvas search, the officer learned that PSP Rockview had received a call from a resident along Hickory Hollow Lane, stating that a while truck had crashed in a ditch on their property. The caller stated that the vehicle appeared unoccupied but that they did not approach to check it completely. When the officer traveled to the crash site, he verified that the truck was the same one that he had been pursuing.
Upon inspecting the vehicle, the officer observed a torn straw with white residue in plain view. Further observation revealed a suspected THC vape cartridge, as well as a pay stub for G&R Excavating for a Michael Barto, 32, of Tyrone. A CLEAN/NCIC check of Barto revealed that a PennDOT DMV photo that matched the individual that the officer had been pursing.
Shortly thereafter, an employee from Rich’s Amco arrived to tow the truck to PSP Rockview impound yard, where it was secured and entered into evidence. On Thursday, June 16, a search warrant was prepared and executed on the white Chevrolet Silverado. Inside of the vehicle, officers found a vape pen with a THC cartridge, two straws, a marijuana edible treat, and a THC cartridge box.
Barto was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller. He was charged with fleeing/attempting to elude an officer, two counts of receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance not obtained from a valid prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while operating privilege is suspended/revoked, careless driving, failing to drive at a safe speed, disregarding traffic lanes, and failing to drive on the right side of the roadway. Bail was set at $25,000 straight cash, which he was unable to post. He is currently being housed at Blair County Prison. A prelim hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 21.
E. S. Young can be reached at eyoung@thedailyherald.net.
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