Police nab assault suspect after chase
A Canonsburg man is in jail on $1 million bond after he allegedly fled when state police attempted to arrest him Friday at a turnpike rest stop, and led them on a 49-mile chase at high speeds before ramming a police cruiser and crashing his car at the Breezewood exit.
William Shaw, 44, of 520 Blaine Ave., was wanted on a warrant obtained 24 hours earlier by state police at the Washington barracks after he allegedly beat a woman he was with at a Canton Township motel, breaking her nose and possibly her arm.
State police from the Somerset station tried to take Shaw into custody on the felony warrant signed Thursday night by District Judge Traci McDonald while he was at the Somerset Plaza on the turnpike.
Police said Shaw refused to stop and drove his car around three marked state police cruisers and went east on the turnpike. Police said he passed vehicles in the right lane, left lane and on the berm at speeds reaching more than 100 mph. The pursuit ended after Shaw rammed a state police vehicle at the Breezewood interchange and then his car overturned at Route 30 and the Breezewood Connector as he was getting off the turnpike. He was taken for medical treatment before he was placed in Bedford County jail.
No troopers were hurt in the chase or crash.
Troopers were called about 5:40 p.m. Thursday to the America’s Best Motel, 1385 W. Chestnut, for the reported assault. The alleged victim, Julia Rose Gregg, told state police that she was getting ready to take a bath when he became angry and started chasing her around the room. Shaw prevented Gregg from leaving the room and started punching her, police said.
When the two left the room, Gregg kept telling bystanders that he had a gun. Shaw reportedly appeared to reach between the seat and console of his car before speeding away.
Gregg also received injuries to her ribs and back during the assault, police said. She was treated at the scene by ambulance personnel and taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Shaw was arraigned in Bedford County on charges including two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of reckless endangerment, fleeing or eluding police and several traffic violations in connection with the chase. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Bedford County Central Court on March 16.
He will be arraigned at a later date before District Judge David Mark on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment for the Canton assault.