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Driver charged in chase

2 min read

A Washington man who reportedly led state police on a brief chase on Independence Day was arraigned this week on charges stemming from the incident.

Earle C. Williams, 29, of 129 Church St., was stopped by state police for an equipment violation on Interstate 79 south near the Meadow Lands exit after the trooper noticed the windshield had a large, spider-web-type break.

Williams told the trooper it was his girlfriend’s car and that he did not have any identification with him. He identified himself as Erik Wilson and claimed not to know his Social Security number.

After having no luck attempting to identify Wilson through the National Crime Information Computer, the man told police he had only moved to Pennsylvania about four months ago from New York. A second attempt to find his information was also unsuccessful. After his birthdate did not jive with the information he provided, police decided to take him to the barracks to identify him through fingerprints.

Williams was told to pull the car further off the road. He started to pull to the right and then took off.

Troopers in two cruisers gave chase. As they approached the north junction with Interstate 70, the troopers saw a cloud of dust and a dented guardrail as drivers swerved. The car Williams was driving swerved and spun, going up an embankment, Williams got out of the car and ran, but was taken into custody.

Once at the barracks, he gave police his correct name and birthdate. It was determined he was wanted in Allegheny County for several charges.

Williams was placed in Washington County jail on the Allegheny County warrant. He was arraigned Monday afternoon before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of causing or risking a catastrophe, flight to avoid apprehension, fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, false identification to police, leaving the scene of a crash and numerous traffic violations. Weller set bond on those charges at $50,000.

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