Multiple charges filed against Masontown man
MASONTOWN – Police said they filed multiple charges against a Masontown man accused of fleeing from police and then ramming his car into a police cruiser Saturday night. Masontown police Chief Joseph Ryan said Darrell Scott Samuel, 29, of 267 Varsity Road was charged Sunday before Magisterial District Judge Dwight K. Shaner with aggravated assault, fleeing and eluding police, drunken driving and other traffic violations following the pursuit.
Ryan said the incident occurred at 11:46 p.m., when Officer Robert Kelly spotted Samuel driving erratically near Fort Mason Village and attempted to make a traffic stop.
Ryan said Samuel fled from police in his car on multiple streets before plowing through a 10-foot chain-link fence on North Water Street.
Ryan said the pursuit continued on Main Street where Samuel lost control of his car and struck a steel storage container.
After striking the container, Ryan said Samuel used his Chrysler sedan to ram Kelly’s police cruiser head on.
Samuel then continued to travel down Main Street before crashing a second time, Ryan said.
When police attempted to remove Samuel from his car, he refused to obey commands and had to be forcibly removed from the vehicle.
Samuel was placed in the Fayette County Prison on $25,000 straight cash bond following his arraignment.
A preliminary hearing will be held at a later date before Magisterial District Judge Randy S. Abraham.
This is not Samuel’s first encounter with Masontown police.
Fayette County Court records indicate that he was charged Aug. 27 with multiple drug offenses following an incident in Masontown. A hearing is scheduled in December before Abraham.
On Aug. 25, police said Samuel was charged with harassment and disorderly conduct following an incident in Masontown, a summary trial will be held before Abraham on those charges later this month.