From staff reports
Titusville police are searching for a city man they accuse of leading police on a high speed chase Tuesday, the third time in which he has been accused of leading police on a chase in the last 30 days.
William Birchard, 40, who is free on a $40,000 bond from a previous incident involving a police chase, fled from police after what Warren state police described as a “rolling domestic incident,” in which he was chasing his ex-girlfriend, according to a criminal complaint.
After receiving a report on the incident from the woman, Warren state police contacted Titusville police, who located Birchard in the parking lot of a restaurant, the complaint said.
With lights and sirens activated, Titusville police officers pursued Birchard through Pleasantville at speeds of over 85 miles per hour, the complaint said.
The pursuit was terminated after Birchard left Pleasantville heading toward Tionesta on Route 36, according to the complaint.
Birchard was also the driver of the vehicle in a January incident in which a Titusville officer fired his gun twice at the vehicle, according to police reports.
After a high-speed chase through Titusville and into Oil Creek Township on Jan. 28, the vehicle stopped near the intersection of Route 8 and Boghollow Road, state police said.
After an investigation, Crawford County District Attorney Francis J. Schultz concluded the officer was justified in the action that was taken.
Birchard was apprehended Feb. 25.
However, he was charged in yet another incident of fleeing police on March 12, according to court documents.
