Virginia man faces charges after car chase
BULLSKIN TWP. – A Connellsville police department cruiser is headed for the repair shop and a Virginia man who allegedly crashed his 1993 Ford Escort into the city vehicle is in jail following a weekend chase through two municipalities. Brian Edward Moore Jr., 19, who lists his address as a Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach, is charged with a single felony count of aggravated assault, three misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, two misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief, single misdemeanor counts of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and disorderly conduct and single summary counts of driving a non-registered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle, failing to stop at a traffic signal, driving on the right side of the roadway, failing to yield or stop the vehicle at posted intersections, failing to drive at a safe speed, driving without proper rear lamps and operating a vehicle without a properly affixed registration plate in connection with the early Saturday morning incident.
According to the criminal complaint filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge Robert Breakiron, Moore was stopped by state police Trooper Christopher Egidi along Route 119, near Moyer Road in Bullskin Township because the right taillight did not function and the license plate was not properly affixed to his vehicle.
When Egidi exited his patrol car, Moore fled south along Route 119 to Connellsville, said police.
The pursuit continued for 15 to 20 minutes, according to the filed complaint, with Moore “running numerous traffic lights and stop signs, traveling at excessive speeds, driving the wrong way down one-way streets and using no turn signals.”
Moore then crashed into a Connellsville police car being driven by Cpl. Dan Sherbinsky at the Crawford Avenue bridge as he attempted to get in front of the fleeing vehicle. After striking the cruiser Moore then hit a lamppost, said police.
Two passengers in Moore’s vehicle, tried to exit the car on numerous occasions, added police.
Connellsville police Chief Stephen Cooper said that Sherbinsky was not injured in the incident. The 2003 Chevrolet Impala patrol car he was driving sustained damage to the left front fender.
Cooper said Wednesday that the damage to the car was minimal and estimates repairs will total approximately $500. The cost to repair the lamppost has yet to be determined, said David Pinkosky, city clerk.
Moore was taken into custody and arraigned on the charges before Magisterial District Judge Wendy Dennis and lodged in the Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $25,000 straight cash bond.
A preliminary hearing will be held Tuesday before Breakiron.