A Port Allegany man is facing criminal charges and 82 summary traffic violations for allegations that he led Lewis Run-based state police on a high speed chase Monday afternoon.
Robert L. Hamilton II, 30, of 3589 Route 155 North, Port Allegany, was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge William Todd on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, a third-degree felony; three counts of recklessly endangering another person, second-degree misdemeanors; driving while license is suspended or revoked related to a DUI, a third-degree misdemeanor; and three counts of DUI-controlled substance, misdemeanors.
Among the long list of summary traffic violations are transporting animals in a cruel manner, trespassing by motor vehicle, and numerous counts related to speeding and unsafe passing.
The criminal complaint states that on Monday afternoon a state trooper who was driving south on Route 155 in Annin Township saw a car driven by Hamilton that was traveling north. The trooper recognized Hamilton and Hamilton’s passenger — Christina Hamilton — as he dealt with them March 9, when he arrested Robert Hamilton for allegedly driving while suspended and possessing marijuana and paraphernalia.
As Hamilton’s car passed, the trooper watched Hamilton accelerate and try to hide his face, court records indicate. The trooper also believed Hamilton’s license was still suspended.
The trooper turned around — an action that took 10 seconds — and paced his patrol vehicle at 100 mph in an attempt to catch up with Hamilton. He turned on his lights and siren, too.
The trooper traveled about 2.1 miles at 100 mph before he saw Hamilton’s car again, according to court records.
During the chase, the officer reported that Hamilton’s car passed at least four vehicles in no-passing zones without using any turn signals; at one point he passed a vehicle that was coming around a curve, the complaint indicated. He allegedly traveled at 100 mph in speed zones that ranged from 40 mph to 55 mph, and his car veered into the wrong lane on multiple occasions.
The trooper discontinued his pursuit when the car reached a 55 mph zone on Route 46 just north of Bordell Road.
The trooper drove toward Smethport Borough, and as he reached the intersection of Route 46 and U.S. Route 6, he saw tire marks that went through a yard on the west side of Route 46, as well as a Smethport police vehicle and a Pennsylvania Game Commission vehicle with their emergency lights on behind the Smethport Beer Distributor.
Hamilton’s car had crashed into a tree. The trooper pulled over and approached Hamilton, who said “he is sorry for putting my life in danger,” the complaint stated.
The trooper then observed a Game Commission warden holding Christina Hamilton at gunpoint, so the trooper assisted by holding her at gunpoint while the warden got her out of the car and detained her, according to the complaint.
Christina Hamilton said she was in pain, so the trooper called for EMS. Robert Hamilton told EMS he had neck pain but was cleared by medical personnel with no major injuries, the complaint stated.
There was a puppy in the back seat of the car about three to four weeks old that was unsecured. Also, Robert Hamilton had bloodshot eyes, constricted pupils and smelled like marijuana, and his car smelled like burnt marijuana, according to court records. However, law enforcement officials did not find anything drug-related when they searched the car.
The complaint stated that a blood test at Bradford Regional Medical Center showed that he had methamphetamine and marijuana in his system.
Robert Hamilton is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail, and a preliminary hearing is set for Monday. It is unclear if any charges are pending against Christina Hamilton; there appeared to be none as of Wednesday afternoon.
