Washington man runs from state police after crash

A Washington man, already wanted on a warrant for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend earlier this month, was arrested Friday morning for allegedly running from state police after crashing his vehicle on Interstate 79 in North Strabane Township.
Chauncy Latif McKnight, 25, is charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, driving under the influence, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, careless driving, reckless driving and several other traffic violations.
State police got a report just before noon of an erratic driver going south on Interstate 79. The driver was reportedly speeding, changing lanes without signally and had crashed into a median barrier.
Trooper Rocco Gagliardi found the vehicle stopped in the middle of the intersection of the interstate off-ramp and Racetrack Road. McKnight was slumped behind the wheel of the vehicle.
As Gagliardi approached, McKnight got out of the vehicle and started running across the road. The trooper told him to stop running. McKnight jumped into the creek and got out on the other side, running to Pike Street in Chartiers Township, where he was apprehended. Police found 52 stamp bags of suspected heroin in McKnight’s vehicle.
South Strabane Township police obtained a warrant for his arrest after he allegedly assaulted Stephanie Brown, 24, of Washington, June 1. She told police she was assaulted by McKnight, whom she identified as her ex-boyfriend at Motel 6, Motel 6 Drive.
Brown told police he asked her to meet him at the motel. He allegedly punched her in the head, grabbed her by the shirt, ripping it, threw her to the sidewalk and kicked her. He then fled. Police searched the area, but were unable to locate him.
McKnight was arraigned before District Judge Mark Wilson and released from Washington County jail Saturday after posting $25,000 bond. He is scheduled for a June 19 preliminary hearing before District Judge Jay Weller. He will be arraigned before Weller at a later date on the simple assault charge.
Online court records show McKnight is scheduled for a July 24 nonjury trial in Allegheny County on firearms violations filed against him by Pittsburgh police in connection with a May 5, 2017, incident.