Pair arrested after high-speed pursuit, crash in residential Bellefonte area
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bellefonte police pursued a fleeing driver through seven residential blocks.
- Man faces felony firearm and drug charges after pointing a pistol at officer.
- Large quantity of meth found in vehicle; woman charged with drug crimes.
Two people were arrested Saturday after a driver led police officers on a high-speed pursuit through a residential Bellefonte area for about seven blocks before crashing.
Robert E. Confer Jr., 36, of Lycoming County, is facing felony firearm, drug and assault charges after Bellefonte police said he pointed a semi-automatic pistol at an officer and crashed with a large amount of methamphetamine in his car. Vesta M. Jones, 40, of Lycoming County, was charged with felony and misdemeanor drug crimes.
Both are incarcerated at the Centre County Correctional Facility. District Judge Casey McClain denied Confer bail and Jones did not post $25,000 bail.
Confer was stopped by two officers about 7:10 p.m. Saturday in front of 100 N. Allegheny St. for a disabled headlight, police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause, but he fled northbound at a high rate of speed once an officer approached his 2006 Nissan Altima.
That stretch of road is lined by homes, businesses, a church and an elementary school. Confer crashed near the 700 block of North Allegheny Street, police wrote.
One of the officers said he saw Confer point a handgun directly at him before he threw it away from the vehicle. The chamber of the Hi-Point .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol was empty, police said, but there were 10 rounds of ammunition in a magazine found in the car.
Confer was not permitted to possess the firearm because of a drug conviction, police wrote, and he did not possess a valid conceal carry permit.
Investigators said they also found a large amount of meth strewn about the vehicle, as well as Jones’ pants. She said Confer threw several bags at her during the chase and told her to place the drugs there, police wrote.
No defense lawyer for either Confer or Jones was listed. Each has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday.