A Harrisville police officer testified Wednesday that he stopped a Grove City man in April after spotting a false inspection sticker on his car.

The stop would lead to John R. Barlow facing 17 criminal charges, but not before he allegedly attempted to escape two times followed by a third successful attempt.

Barlow faces charges that include escape and driving under the influence. On Wednesday, Barlow's lawyer, Joseph Smith, asked Common Pleas Judge William Shaffer to drop the case, arguing that Sgt. Daniel Anschutz didn't have a good reason to pull Barlow over.

Anschutz testified that on April 9 he was observing traffic on South Main Street when Barlow, who had two passengers in his car, drove by Anschutz. Anschutz said he noticed that the number 9 on Barlow's inspection appeared to be altered. He later would determine that Barlow's inspection expired in 2018 and Barlow allegedly tried to hide that fact. Barlow stopped the car and immediately got out to approach Anschutz. The officer determined Barlow's license was invalid, but as Anschutz was checking this Barlow allegedly walked away behind a store.

The two passengers told Anschutz that Barlow went around back to urinate, according to the officer. Anschutz said he found Barlow on his cell phone. And as Anschutz began to pat Barlow down, the suspect once again allegedly ran away before Anschutz caught up with him and wrestled him to the ground.

“I advised him he'd be tased if he didn't stop resisting,” Anschutz said as he held a taser gun to Barlow's back.

But that wasn't Barlow's last alleged attempt to get away from authorities, according to the criminal complaint.

With Barlow in custody, he was eventually taken to the Harrisville police station. At some point, he asked to use the bathroom, police said.

Anschutz removed the cuff from his right hand. His left hand remained cuffed, behind his back, to the loops on a handcuff belt.

With Barlow in the bathroom, the officer called Slippery Rock police to make arrangements for the defendant to take a breath test to determine his blood-alcohol level.

The defendant walked out of the bathroom at 7:39 p.m. and, with no shoes, continued out of the station, police said.

Anschutz, assisted by Slippery Rock police, searched for — but could not find — the suspect. The county's 911 center later issued a be-on-the-lookout advisory. Eleven days later, he turned himself in at the Mercer County Jail.

Barlow is charged with escape, resisting arrest, DUI, disorderly conduct, altering a vehicle inspection sticker and eight traffic violations, including driving with a suspended license-DUI related.

He's also charged with two counts each of theft and receiving stolen property for allegedly taking the two pairs of handcuffs he was wearing when he allegedly got away.

Shaffer will later make a decision about the legality of the stop.