A Bradford man was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Dominic Cercone on allegations he possessed drug paraphernalia in July, ran away from a police officer in September and led police on a high speed chase in October.
Darryl M. Sherlock, 34, faces three separate criminal cases due to the allegations.
In one case, Sherlock’s charged with three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanors, and summary driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked and driving without a license; in the second case, with two counts of flight to avoid apprehension, a third-degree felony and a second-degree misdemeanor; and in the third case, with fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, a third-degree felony, flight to avoid apprehension, a second-degree misdemeanor, and summary charges of reckless driving and driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked.
According to the criminal complaints, at 12:47 p.m. July 10, multiple Bradford City officers who were on North Center Street for an unrelated incident spotted two men in a vehicle trying to hide their faces. Police recognized Sherlock — who was driving — and knew Sherlock did not have a current driver’s license.
They pulled him over and discovered Sherlock was in possession of a scale with cocaine residue, a glass pipe and a butane torch, court records stated. He was also under the supervision of state parole at the time.
At 10:11 p.m. Sept. 26, a Bradford City officer who was on patrol was aware of warrants out for Sherlock from both state parole and McKean County, and he had heard that Sherlock was reported to be in the Bradford area.
While the officer was driving north on Mechanic Street, he saw Sherlock walking through the Country Fair parking lot. When Sherlock saw that the officer was looking directly at him, he started running in the opposite direction, the complaint stated. The officer lost sight of Sherlock and was unable to find him that day.
At 1:01 p.m. Oct. 11, officers received a tip that Sherlock was at the Chestnut Street Uni-Mart playing slot machines. Police on scene saw Sherlock get into the driver’s side of a car there, trying to hide his face. An officer activated the lights on his patrol vehicle and pulled up to the driver’s side rear of the car, the complaint stated.
According to court records, Sherlock started the car, put it in reverse and headed down Chestnut Street; the officer activated his siren and advised McKean County dispatch and another officer that Sherlock was fleeing.
A pick-up truck tried to pull in front of Sherlock, and Sherlock swerved left, struck the curb and turned left onto East Corydon Street without stopping at the stop sign, court records alleged. He drove through another stop sign at Congress Street and through a red light at South Avenue, traveling on West Corydon Street into Bradford Township.
Just before Dorothy Lane, the left front tire of his car tore apart, and Sherlock continued driving on the rim at speeds estimated at 60 mph. He went down Dorothy Lane and turned left onto West Washington Street without stopping at the stop sign, according to the complaint.
Court records alleged that Sherlock continued driving in the 35 mph zone at a high rate of speed, crossing into the wrong lane multiple times. He passed a Jeep and later a motorcycle by crossing into the wrong lane in sections with a double yellow line. Two other vehicles were forced off the road near Gilbert Lane when Sherlock was driving in the wrong lane. He passed two more vehicles about half a mile before Marilla Reservoir. He was traveling between 60 and 80 mph by this time.
He traveled past the reservoir going approximately 70 miles per hour and continued into Corydon Township. Due to the blown tire, “parts were flying in the air” off Sherlock’s car and hitting the undercarriage of the patrol vehicle, the complaint stated. He was traveling 90-plus mph at this point.
After they passed Willow Bay, an officer asked dispatch to advise Cattaraugus County, N.Y., law enforcement that might be entering New York state.
After they entered New York, the officer could see heavy smoke coming from Sherlock’s car, and the car slowed to around 30 mph. Sherlock turned onto a dirt road to a private camp, then got out and started running. Sherlock ran through a heavily wooded area in the direction of the Allegheny River, according to the complaint.
An officer who was chasing him on foot deployed a Taser, hitting Sherlock in the back, and he was able to handcuff Sherlock. Sherlock told officers that he had a backpack in the car that contained needles, methamphetamine and marijuana, court records indicated.
Sherlock is in McKean County Jail on a total $100,000 bail in the three cases. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 13.