Police chase ends in arrest

By Jim Smith

Butler Eagle Staff Writer

MIDDLESEX TWP — A Butler Township man is accused of drunken driving while leading police on a four-mile chase, which exceeded speeds of 90 mph.

Justin M. Crispin, 25, was arraigned Wednesday on a felony charge of fleeing or eluding police in connection with last week’s high-speed chase that spanned three municipalities.

He also is charged with driving under the influence, speeding and several other traffic violations.

Middlesex Township Patrolman Bryan Costanzo said he was in his police car, parked on Route 8 near Old Route 8 in the township, when a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier sped past him about 3:30 a.m. Friday.

The officer, who was working a detail with the Butler County DUI Task Force, took after the northbound car and followed it for about a mile until activating his emergency lights near Dinnerbell Road in Penn Township.

“He was all over the road,” Costanzo said of the driver, later identified as Crispin. “He was going between all three (northbound) lanes.”

The patrolman, who now suspected he was chasing an intoxicated driver, radioed Butler Township police and state police for help.

During the case, police said, Crispin crossed into opposing traffic.

“He went over to the southbound lane,” Costanzo said. “He used four out of five lanes on Route 8 and never slowed down.”

The pursuit, which topped out at speeds of a little more than 90 mph, abruptly ended at Route 8 and McCalmont Road in Butler Township.

“(Crispin) came to a red light and actually stopped,” Costanzo said.

After approaching the car, the officer reported the strong smell of alcohol coming from the suspect, who told police he was driving home.

Crispin failed field sobriety tests and was taken to the state police barracks in Butler Township for a breath test, which showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.148 percent.

A level of 0.08 percent is considered intoxicated under state law.

Costanzo also said he noticed Crispin’s white car had fresh scratch marks and red and green colored paint transfer on both sides, indicating that it may have struck another vehicle or vehicles that night.

But, he noted, police have not received any reports of collisions in the area.