2 motorists accused of fleeing from police
Butler police arrested two drivers on charges they failed to stop for officers in separate weekend traffic incidents.
Stephen M. Netz, 31, who is homeless, and Bryan W. Gillespie, 33, of Butler, each face a felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude police and other charges.
Both men ended up in the Butler County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail each.
Police allege Netz was intoxicated about 2:05 a.m. Sunday when he passed an officer while traveling about twice the 25 mph posted speed limit on West Cunningham Street.
Lt. Brian Grooms activated his emergency lights and siren after the car turned onto West Wayne Street, but the defendant did not pull over, according to charging documents.
Netz continued onto Virginia Avenue and stopped at the intersection of Beckert Avenue, police said.
When asked why he didn't immediately pull over, documents said, Netz told Grooms that he was “tired of the police messing with him.”
He admitted he had five or six drinks before driving. Police said a breath test later showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.150 percent. A level of 0.08 percent is considered intoxicated under state law.
Police said that an inventory search of his car turned up two marijuana pipes and a marijuana grinder.
In addition to fleeing police, Netz is charged with driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia and disobeying traffic control devices.
Police suspect Gillespie also was speeding about 1:50 p.m. Saturday in the area of North McKean and East Brady streets.Patrolman Kory Fleming followed Gillespie's car onto East Walnut Street and hit his emergency lights and siren as Gillespie headed toward Franklin Street “at a high rate of speed,” documents said.He is accused of running the stop sign at the intersection before turning onto Franklin Street and failing to stop at the intersection of Franklin and East Brady streets.The pursuit continued onto East Locust Street before Gillespie turned onto a small driveway on Hempfling Street and stopped.He is charged with fleeing, driving with a suspended license and reckless driving.Preliminary hearings for both men are set July 29.
