Man Flees Police on Foot Through Traffic

Thomas James Myers, 39, of New Castle, will be facing a felony charge of delivery or possession with intent to deliver drug and two misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and prohibited acts, and Troy Lee Gompf, 51, of Ellwood City, will be facing two felony charges of hindering apprehension or prosecution, proceeding an incident that happened on February 24.

According to the criminal complaint, an Ellwood City officer was patrolling the area of Line Avenue and Smiley Street when he noticed a van make a quick right turn into a side alley using a late turn signal. The officer followed the vehicle as it made another quick turn down another alley between Orchard Avenue and Line Avenue, failing to use a right turn signal. The van failed to make a complete stop at the stop sign located on Union Street at Line Avenue and the van began to pick up speed to elude the officer.

The officer conducted a traffic stop with the van in Barry’s Ice Cream parking lot and immediately both the driver side door and passengers side door opened at the same time. The driver started to walk back towards the officer who demanded he return to his vehicle. Once the officer approached the van he identified the driver and asked him where the passenger had gone, the driver identified the passenger as Myers and stated that he ran from the vehicle down the alley behind Wampum Avenue.

When the officer asked why he ran the driver stated that the defendant placed something in the drop down compartment in the ceiling of his van before running. Upon giving the officer permission to search the vehicle, two burnt metal suspected crack pipes, a bent silver spoon, another suspected crack pipe with a packing wire rod along with a black digital scale and a small jar with an unknown white powder substance were located.

The officer seized the bag with the items and secured the vehicle, the driver agreed to cooperate and stated that Myers might have ran to Gompf’s residence, roughly 40 yards away. The officer made contact with Gompf and explained the situation, Gompf reassured the officer that Myers was not in the residence and agreed to let him search the household.

Upon inspection Myers ran out the back door and lead officers on a foot chase across Line Avenue through traffic. Myers resisted arrest by struggling with officers but was eventually placed under arrest and transported to Ellwood City Police Department where he was later lodged in Lawrence County jail on two pending domestic relations warrants.