Woman flees, hits 2 vehicles during pursuit
CRANBERRY TWP — Township police are searching for a woman who allegedly fled from police and hit two vehicles on Wednesday on Route 228.
Police filed charges and obtained a search warrant Wednesday afternoon for Nicole C. Graef, 29, of East Palestine, Ohio.
Police went to Jason’s Deli on Route 19 at 2:30 p.m. for a report of a suicidal female, according to the criminal complaint.
She left the business driving a blue Kia Sedona. When officer Ryan Slack attempted to pull her over on Freedom Road to check on her well-being, she allegedly proceeded through a red light at the intersection with Route 19 at a high rate of speed.
While in pursuit on Route 228 eastbound, the car allegedly was weaving in and out of traffic “with a willful and wanton disregard for the other traffic on the road,” according to the complaint.
During the chase, her car allegedly struck two other vehicles, which were occupied by Eugene Gaughf and Rhonda and Giovanni Susi. They were not reported injured.
About 3 p.m., emergency dispatchers put out an alert, notifying police in Butler County to lookout for her car. She was last seen driving on Franklin Road in the township.
If arrested, she will face a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, three charges of misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person, two counts of misdemeanor accident involving damage to an attended vehicle, reckless driving, speeding and failure to stop at a red signal.
The incident Wednesday was the second time this week that Graef was in trouble with the law.
The police in Chippewa Township, Beaver County, filed charges against her Tuesday for stalking, defiant trespass, harassment and disorderly conduct from an alleged incident Monday.
A summons was issued and she is scheduled to appear in district court July 28 for those charges.
