Man pleads guilty in drunken high-speed chase
A Butler man pleaded guilty Tuesday in Butler County court to charges related to shoplifting and a high-speed chase.
Donald L. Griffin Jr., 22, pleaded guilty to felony fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, misdemeanor driving under the influence, retail theft and recklessly endangering another person before Judge Timothy McCune.
The plea agreement calls for a sentence of six to 18 months in Butler County Prison, followed by 24 months probation, fines, 60 hours of community service and restitution. He continues to be held in Butler County Prison on $25,000 bail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Nov. 30.
Griffin was initially charged with a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude police and misdemeanor charges of DUI, DUI highest rate, accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property, retail theft, receiving stolen property and reckless endangerment, as well as 10 traffic violations including driving without a license after an incident in Butler Township on July 21.
Butler Township police filed the charges after Griffin allegedly stole more than $540 worth of clothing, jewelry and groceries from Walmart at Butler Commons shopping plaza before taking off in a Ford Escape.
Police responded and found the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed near several pedestrians. Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but it continued.
Another man bailed out of the passenger seat and was arrested, police said, but not before the SUV nearly ran over his legs.
The vehicle continued through several stop signs in the parking lot before turning west onto New Castle Road where several traffic violations were committed, including passing vehicles on the right.
The vehicle went onto the Route 422 on-ramp reaching speeds above 100 mph.
Griffin lost control after sideswiping another vehicle, and went into the grass median between the Route 8 north and south exit ramps and the Route 422 east on-ramp, before hitting the hillside and coming to a stop.
Officers said they got to the wrecked SUV and saw Griffin slumped over in the driver's seat. He appeared injured and was unresponsive in the locked vehicle.
One of the officers used his baton to break the driver's side window to help rescue Griffin, who had cuts to his forehead. Griffin was taken by ambulance to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Later, police searched the vehicle and recovered the stolen Walmart merchandise, documents said. They also found two half-empty beer cans and an open bottle of brandy.
