Road chase turns into foot pursuit
CLAY TWP — A 43-year-old Concord Township man believed to be high on drugs was arrested early Monday following a more than 20-mile vehicle chase that turned into a foot chase through the woods.
Troopers from two counties finally caught the suspect in the area of Route 308 and Mahood Road in Clay Township, but not before one of the officers deployed a Taser, which proved ineffective.
Police allege Lenny D. Porter Jr. was under the influence of a controlled substance. He also was in the possession of a vape pen with suspected marijuana wax.
Following his capture, police said, he told troopers that he fled because he did not have insurance on the vehicle.
He was eventually placed in the Venango County Prison on felony fleeing and other charges.
Troopers at the Franklin station in Venango County tried to stop Porter around 12:50 a.m. for having a faulty license plate light on Route 8 in Barkeyville, just north of the Butler County line.
Police activated their emergency lights and siren but Porter did not stop, according to court documents. He fled south at speeds of more than 80 mph in a Ford F150 pickup truck.
The chase continued for about 25 minutes through Barkeyville and into Butler County. At some point, the defendant turned onto Route 308.
Troopers in Butler deployed stop strips across the road just north of Mahood Road, police said.
Porter ran over the devices but he managed to keep driving for about one-half mile before his pickup became disabled. He got out of the truck and ran through a yard and into the woods with troopers from Butler and Franklin giving chase.
Police said one of the officers during the foot chase fired a Taser but it apparently had no impact because the suspect was wearing a heavy coat.
About 100 yards into the woods, documents said, he fell and was arrested.
District Judge Patrick Lowrey of Seneca, Venango County, arraigned Porter on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, and possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
He also was cited for eight traffic violations, including driving a vehicle without insurance.
He was placed in prison on $10,000 bail following arraignment.
