From staff reports
An Erie man is facing charges after he allegedly pursued and almost hit a police vehicle around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday on Pleasant Valley Road in Pleasantville.
Franklin state police said they responded to a residence at 15720 Pleasant Valley Road for a report of man, later identified as Mark Crawford, 57, on an ATV who was trespassing and making alarming statements while in possession of a firearm.
Police drove onto the road when Crawford, who was then driving a truck, began to follow the patrol vehicle, police said.
Police had to speed at times to avoid Crawford’s vehicle. He failed to stop his truck properly when police conducted a traffic stop, and he nearly struck the driver’s side door of the patrol vehicle, police said.
Crawford was found to be highly intoxicated and also in possession of a 9 mm pistol, police said.
He failed to comply with police commands and had to be physically removed from the vehicle and forcibly taken into custody, police said.
Crawford is facing nine misdemeanor and summary counts related to DUI, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest.
A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in Central Court.
