Man pleads guilty to fleeing police
A Beaver County man, charged with fleeing from police, entered a guilty plea in Butler County Court on Monday.
Benjamin V. Cunningham, 27, of Fombell pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement and summary failure to yield to an emergency vehicle before Judge William Shaffer.
Cunningham was initially charged with the fleeing count, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, the summary failure to yield charge, and driving on a suspended license after an incident on Dec. 19.
He is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 2.
Cunningham was charged by Zelienople police after officers said his vehicle was seen heading west on West New Castle Road, and a check of the registration found that it had expired and the owner of the vehicle, Cunningham, had a suspended driver's license, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
The officer caught up with the vehicle on Route 228 in Franklin Township, Beaver County, and attempted to pull the vehicle over near the intersection with Lake Road, the document states.
The vehicle continued driving, with the driver indicating several times out the window that he would pull over, the document states.
The vehicle then turned onto Lancaster Road, then Lutz Street, all while continuing at the speed limit but still refusing to pull over, the document states.
After pulling into the driveway of 123 Lutz St., which was found to be Cunningham's home, Cunningham was found driving and arrested.
Police said the odor of marijuana was smelled coming from the vehicle.
Cunningham stated he ran because he knew he had a warrant out of Westmoreland County. When police checked, no warrant existed, but his license was suspended, the document states.
He also indicated that a bag of marijuana was between the center console and the passenger seat, and the document states that a large Ziploc bag containing an ounce of marijuana was found.
