According to reports, Ellwood City Police have charged Gary Joseph Rakoci Jr., 26, of Union Township, after he allegedly fled from police in his vehicle and on foot, around 3:00am Saturday while he allegedly was driving drunk.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Ellwood City police, an officer driving an unmarked patrol car was southbound on Seventh Street when he saw a gray Jeep go through an intersection at Crescent Avenue at high speed, and it turned north, failing to stop at a stop sign.
After observing a gray Jeep go through an intersection at Crescent Avenue at high speed, and turning north, failing to stop at a stop sign, Ellwood City police pursued. Police said the Jeep continued through various streets at high speed. An officer tried to pull over the vehicle but it continued, failing to stop at stop signs at several intersections along Bell and Wayne avenues.
According to the report, the Jeep ultimately pulled into a parking lot of Edro Steel on Wayne Avenue, and a man, later identified as Rakoci, got out of the Jeep and ran. The officer chased him and deployed his Taser, striking the suspect twice on his backside. Another officer arrived and they arrested him.
Police said Rakoci smelled of alcohol and was taken to the Ellwood City Hospital for a blood test, which showed his blood alcohol concentration as 0.11 percent. The officers learned that Rakoci’s driver’s license is suspended for a DUI-related offense, the published report states.
Rakoci is charged with fleeing and eluding police, two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, and one count each of reckless driving and driving while his license is suspended, DUI related.
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