Two charged in local police chase earlier this month waive hearing
A state police corporal who filed charges in connection with a lengthy high-speed chase on interstates and local roads earlier this month said it was fortunate no one was injured during the pursuit, which included the driver going the wrong way on Interstate 70.
John Dustin Donley, 26, of Washington, who was the driver, and Julie Maynard, 31, of Washington, his passenger, waived their right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday before District Judge Jay Weller in connection with the Sept. 6 chase. Maynard faces a charge of hindering apprehension. Four counts of felony conspiracy were dismissed. Donley is charged with causing or risking a catastrophe, fleeing or attempting to elude police, resisting arrest, flight to avoid apprehension, reckless endangerment and numerous traffic violations.
“It was very, very fortunate,” said Cpl. Mark Bardzil when asked if it was surprising no one other than Donley and Maynard was injured when the pickup truck the two were in crashed after being deliberately rammed by a state police cruiser at the Eighty Four on-ramp to I-70.
Maynard and Donley were taken to Washington Hospital for treatment. According to police, hospital personnel discovered Donley had a 6-inch suspected crack pipe in his rectum. It was removed and given to police as evidence, according to an affidavit supporting a search warrant for the truck. Donley was transferred to UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh, and police said medical personnel there found he also had inserted a lighter into his rectum. Maynard was treated for her injuries and released to police.
The chase began when Donley allegedly fled from a traffic stop by South Strabane Township police in a parking lot of a restaurant at Old Mill. Donley had no insurance for the vehicle and an invalid license plate. Donley, who was wanted on a warrant, reportedly gave police a false name.
South Strabane Officers John Beckus and Keith Zenkovich initiated the pursuit and asked for backup from other departments. The pursuit reached speeds of 100 mph. Bardzil estimated it covered 20 to 25 miles.
After an attempt to stop Donley using stop sticks failed at the Eighty Four exit of I-70, Donley continued east on the highway, getting off at the Dunningsville exit. Police said he then got back on the highway going east in the westbound lanes. Bardzil said most of the pursuit was on the shoulder of the highway, although at times it did go into travel lanes. He believes the presence of the cruisers with lights and sirens alerted other drivers.
“It gave them advance warning,” Bardzil said.
Weller, who denied bond for Donley at his Sept. 8 arraignment, planned to set bond at $50,000 for him, but Donley asked the judge to consider lowering his bond to $25,000 so he would be eligible to be an inmate worker at Washington County jail.
“I want to go be an inmate worker instead of sitting around doing nothing,” Donley told Weller, explaining the bond had to be $25,000 or lower for him to be eligible.
Weller agreed to set it at $25,000, telling Donley the goal is to help him get on a better path. Maynard remains in jail on $10,000 bond, as well as a detainer.
Maynard is scheduled for formal arraignment Dec. 15, while Donley’s is set for Dec. 22.