‘All this just for a DUI and ... a little marijuana.’ Port Matilda man jailed after police chase
Editor’s note: The Centre County district attorney’s office withdrew both misdemeanor counts of DUI in February 2020. (Updated: 10:30 a.m., July 22, 2020)
A Port Matilda man was jailed Thursday after Bellefonte police said he led officers on a marijuana-fueled car chase for about 15 miles.
Dorie Adams, 68, began driving about 2:50 p.m. Thursday along the 200 block of West High Street, police wrote in an affidavit filed Thursday.
An officer attempted to stop Adams, but he continued along North Water Street and state Route 144 until he reached Milesburg. He then turned onto South Eagle Valley Road, police wrote.
Adams is accused of several traffic violations, including passing an officer’s vehicle that had its lights and sirens activated, police wrote.
State police at Rockview deployed spike strips, and Adams’ vehicle stopped at 5880 S. Eagle Valley Road, Bellefonte police Chief Shawn Weaver said Thursday.
About seven police vehicles were involved in the pursuit, Weaver said.
“When we get into these situations, you have to weigh the reward of catching him,” Weaver said. ”We knew who he was, so if it would have got to the point where it was unsafe, we would have definitely called the pursuit off. ... But we were pretty confident that if he continued on the road he was going to cause an accident.”
Adams was taken into custody without incident and transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center, police wrote.
“All this just for a DUI and smoking a little marijuana. I hope you are happy with yourself,” police quoted Adams as saying.
Adams was charged with one felony count of fleeing an officer, two misdemeanor counts of DUI and five summary traffic citations.
He was arraigned Thursday by District Judge Casey McClain, who set bail at 10% of $5,000. Adams did not post bail and is detained at the Centre County Correctional Facility.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
This story was originally published February 14, 2020 at 10:52 AM.