A Butler Township man in jail for repeatedly fleeing from the police, while allegedly intoxicated at least one time, wants to be released, citing a state law ensuring a speedy trial.

On Oct. 6, 2019, Jay E. Vinroe, 55 was arrested after allegedly leading police on a chase. After posting his bond, Vinroe allegedly cut the government's monitoring bracelet in June, and when police tried to track him down in July, he was charged with fleeing from police.

Since July 4, he has been in Butler County Prison, where he has awaited trial in these two cases for at least 182 days. But with trials still postponed over coronavirus concerns, Vinroe's case is stagnant, and his public defender, Maura Palumbi, requested that Judge William Shaffer release Vinroe from jail under Rule 600.The rule requires that defendants be released from pretrial incarceration after 180 days. But assistant District Attorney Patricia McLean said the safety of the community comes first in this case, and she cited his multiple alleged attempts to flee from authorities.Palumbi responded by noting that Vinroe maintains his innocence and he hasn't been found guilty of anything yet. Shaffer said he would review the case and make a decision later.In Vinroe's first case, he successfully eluded authorities on Oct. 5, 2019. Police said they were following a pickup truck on West Cunningham Street when the driver turned onto Mercer Street without signaling. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren, but the driver sped away.Patrolman Dakota Fennell pursued the truck out of the city and into the township's Lyndora section, police said. While on Whitestown Road, the suspect allegedly turned off his headlights and taillights in an apparent attempt to elude the officer.Fennell momentarily lost sight of the pickup as it traveled past the General Butler Vagabonds building headed toward the Sherwood Lanes parking lot.Moments later, police discovered the truck had crashed into the back side of the Sherwood Lanes building. Police noted the bowling alley was open and there were customers inside. No one was injured.But by the time Fennell got to the truck, police said, the driver was gone. Also gone was the key from the ignition. Police ran the license plate and found that Vinroe owned the truck.Butler Township police, who were called to assist, subsequently found Vinroe “walking briskly” on the 600 block of Hansen Avenue, according to charging documents. He was allegedly found with the truck key. Police said he also smelled of alcohol.Vinroe was charged with a felony fleeing from police and multiple misdemeanor charges, including driving under the influence, driving without lights to avoid apprehension and accident involving damage.While out on pretrial supervision, authorities said he cut his monitor bracelet, leading to his second case.Police said that while assisting a bail bondsman with a warrant service on Vinroe about 5:50 p.m. on July 3, they attempted to stop him on a motorcycle on Route 173 in Slippery Rock Township.But he eluded the traffic stop, police said, and drove away at a “high rate of speed” before traveling through a nearby field. He fled on foot into the woods.But around 9:45 p.m., police arrested Vinroe after he allegedly attempted to flee a second time.Authorities charged him with a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude police and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest. He also is charged with six traffic violations.Butler County court records showed that Vinroe has two prior convictions for fleeing police in 1999 and 2017.

Jay Vinroe