One charge dropped for Windber man accused in police pursuit crash
One charge of many was dropped for a Windber man accused of leading police on a pursuit.
Anthony Jacob Ott, 34, allegedly gave police a false name before fleeing in October, causing a crash.
An aggravated assault charge was dropped Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty. Ott will face the remaining charges, which include a second aggravated assault charge, in the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas.
Cpl. Brian Mears pulled Ott over in a traffic stop Oct. 26, and Ott allegedly told him his name was Tony Distefano. Mears asked Ott to step out of the car when he saw there was no record of the name, and Ott allegedly sped away.
A second officer, Trooper Anthony Sayles, pursued Ott’s vehicle down Route 119, according to court records. Police said Ott was driving about 80 mph, and passed two vehicles in the oncoming lane of traffic.
When Sayles attempted to turn left onto Arch Bridge Road, a black sedan turned into the trooper’s path, and the two vehicles collided, police said. No injuries were reported, though a police vehicle sustained disabling damage, according to court filings.
Mears terminated the pursuit.
Two Connellsville police officers allegedly spotted Ott’s vehicle near the shopping plaza on Route 201, where he fled again.
He allegedly abandoned his vehicle near Witter Avenue in Connellsville. His girlfriend, Jennifer Donaldson, lived nearby. She reportedly told police Ott took her car without permission.
Donaldson consented to a search of her house, which was briefly surrounded by police, and Ott was taken into custody.
Police said they found 12 stamp bags of heroin in the car he was driving, along with his state identification.
He is charged with aggravated assault, escape, false identification, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, three counts of reckless endangerment and two counts of flight.
He is held in Fayette County Prison on a $50,000 bond.