Authorities: Mifflinburg man led police on two separate high-speed chases through Valley
May 2—fscarcella@dailyitem.com
and Justin Strawser
A Mifflinburg man has been jailed on a combined $300,000 bail following two high-speed chases in Northumberland and Union counties that included several attempts to escape police, flying tools and ladders and possession of 72 grams of methamphetamine, according to arrest papers.
Kalvin Showalter, 31, of Keister Lane, is also wanted in Centre County for leading state police at Rockview on a pursuit that exceeded 100 mph, ramming a police cruiser, nearly hitting a trooper and driving through a farm field on April 6 in Gregg Township, Centre County.
Showalter is now housed in the Northumberland County Jail after appearing before Milton District Judge Mike Diehl on felony charges of, person not to possess a controlled substance, aggravated assault, fleeing, flight to avoid apprehension, escape and possession with intent to deliver stemming from an April 26 incident that led Point Township Police on the chase through the township.
Showalter was also arraigned on Monday in front of Mifflinburg District Judge Jeffrey Mensh and committed to Union County Jail instead of $100,000 cash bail. He was charged with two felony counts of fleeing to elude officers and flight to avoid apprehension; and 10 summary traffic violations, including speeding, driving while suspended, careless driving and reckless driving
State Trooper Tyler Arbogast, of the Milton State Police Barracks, reported he observed a white Dodge Ram pickup truck towing an enclosed white work trailer speeding west on Moll Road in Lewis Township in Union County at 7:25 p.m. on April 8. The driver, identified as Showalter, was allegedly traveling 42 mph in a 25 mph zone, police said.
Arbogast said state police were actively looking for Showalter, who has a suspended license due to DUI and was wanted by state police out of the Rockview area for multiple felony charges.
He was charged by State Trooper Jay Pollick, of the Rockview State Police Barracks, on April 8 in Centre County with felony counts of aggravated assault, fleeing, and criminal mischief, as well as three related misdemeanors and six summary violations. The charges were filed in the State College office of District Judge Donald M. Hahn.
Showalter fled from Milton state police at a high rate of spend and police pursued at rates in excess of 80 mph in a 25 mph zone, police said.
After traveling approximately two miles on Moll Road, Showalter traveled through a stop sign and turned right near Pleasant Grove Road onto Sawmill Road, a dirt road that turns into a logging road through a heavily wooded area, police said.
After approximately two miles on Sawmill Road, several tools and metal ladders flew off the vehicle's trailer and blocked access to the road. The pursuit was ended due to poor road conditions and access to the road being blocked by ladders, police said.
Several units, including the Mifflinburg Police Department, Buffalo Valley Regional Police, Union County Sheriff's Office and other state police units out of Milton, arrived on the scene to assist. New Berlin Fire Department personnel arrived on the scene to use an ATV to canvas the wooded area, police said.
The truck with the enclosed trailer was found approximately one mile northeast of where the pursuit ended. Showalter was not located inside the vehicle and several footprints were found in the mud leading in a northeastern direction, police said.
Showalter was not found on that day, police said.
The Northumberland County chase started at around 4 p.m. April 26, according to court documents. Police officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a van towing a trailer at Ridge Road and Neitz Road, but the van keep going traveling on Neitz road and Nottingham Drive, onto Essex Lane through a yard and back to Nottingham Drive and back to Neitz Road, police said.
The van continued at a high rate of speed east on Neitz Road and into a field towards Kauffman Lane, police said.
The van nearly struck a man standing near a vehicle before nearly getting stuck in a field, then continued on through multiple yards, and farm fields off Kauffman Lane, damaging the yards and crops.
While in pursuit, the van sped up and nearly struck a pedestrian walking on Spring House Road and rammed a locked gate that separates two private lanes, police wrote in the complaint. The gate flew open and struck a man, knocking him to the ground, police said.
The man was treated at Geisinger Medical Center for a fractured arm and stitches to a wound that exposed the individual's bone, court papers state.
The van continued on, and eventually began to drive straight at a police vehicle before going over the top of an embankment in an attempt to avoid police, the criminal complaint stated.
The van attempted to leave a field and got stuck in a ditch. At that point, Showalter fled on foot, police said.
He headed toward Spruce Hollow Road and eventually officers fired an electronic weapon at him, striking him in the leg, bringing the man to the ground, police said.
He continued to resist arrest and eventually police were able to take him into custody, according to police.
Officers alleged they discovered a HiPoint .45-caliber carbine with a scope, which police said matched the description of a stolen weapon.
Once Showalter was taken to Geisinger Medical Center to be treated for his injuries, officers said he fled from an X-ray room and ran out of the hospital where he was once again taken into custody, according to court documents.
Police executed a search warrant on the van and allegedly discovered 72 grans of methamphetamine, and also discovered the trailer attached to the van was stolen, according to court documents.
Showalter is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in front of Mensch at 11:30 a.m. May 14. He is also scheduled for a preliminary hearing in front of Diehl at 11 a.m. May 15.
