From staff reports
A Cranberry man is facing charges for leading police on a high-speed chase Sunday in Cranberry Township.
Franklin state police observed Justin Rozanski, 30, driving very slowly on Bredinsburg Road at about 2 a.m. Sunday, but when police made a U-turn and began to follow him he drove off at a high rate of speed, according to a criminal complaint filed by police.
Police followed Rozanski’s vehicle at speeds of more than 90 mph down Bredinsburg Road to its intersection with Route 322 where Rozanski didn’t stop at the stop sign before turning east onto Route 322, according to the complaint. The vehicle crossed the line on several occasions, the complaint said.
After turning off Route 322 onto Victory Church Road in Victory Heights, Rozanski continued driving his vehicle at a high rate of speed down various back roads to the Cranberry Rockland bike trail where his car got stuck on some rocks while he was trying to enter the bike trail with the vehicle, the complaint said.
Rozanski then exited the car and fled on foot before he fell down a steep embankment, according to the complaint.
Police took him into custody after telling him multiple times to comply with the troopers, the complaint said.
He told troopers the reason he fled from police was because he had methamphetamine and marijuana in his car, according to the compliant.
Rozanski also told police he had used methamphetamine several hours before the car chase, the complaint said. The complaint also notes he exhibited a common reaction to methamphetamine while on the way to UPMC Northwest for a blood draw.
Rozanski has been charged with a felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, two misdemeanor counts of DUI and six summary traffic violations.
He was arraigned Sunday and placed in the Venango County jail with bail denied on the grounds he is a flight risk and won’t comply with bail conditions.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled Sept. 9 in Central Court.
